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DR. NEESEN'S 
BOOK ON WHEELING 



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DR. NEESEN'S 
BOOK ON WHEELING 



Hints and Advice to Men and Women from 
the Physician's Standpoint. 



BY 

VICTOR NEESEN, M. D. 

Assistant to the Chair of Gynecology, Long Island College 
Hospital 5 Member Women's Hospital Society } Kings Co. 
Medical Society, Long Island Medical Society, Kings Co. 
Medical Association ; Lately House Surgeon at the 
Woman's Hospital in the State of New York j 
Recently House Surgeon at Prof. Martin's Privat- 
Anstalt in Berlin ; Member Physical Edu- 
cation Society of New York. 



Illustrations and Appendix. 




NEWAMSTERDAM BOOK COMPANY 
156 FIFTH AVENUE, : NEW YORK 












Copyright 1899 

BY 

VICTOR NEESEN, M. D. 



^// rights reser-ved. 



By lransf»r 

D. C. Public Libwry 

FEB 2 6 1938 



vVililDKAvVN 




DEDICATION 



To that vast army of male and female bicyclists who have 
arraigned themselves against our common enemy "111 
health " this book is dedicated with the hope that, if 
they have health it may always continue, and if 
they have it not, it may speedily be theirs. 
Health of the rosy, romping, rollick- 
ing kind, with its accompani- 
ment of jubilant and 
sparkling spirits. 



CONTENTS. 



Introductory. — Bicycling Considered as an Exercise. 

CHAP. PAGE. 

I. Hygiene 13 

Costume. Position. Learning to Ride. Correct 
Riding. Tandem Riding. Breathing. Food and 
Drink. Baths. Training. Excursions. Centuries. 

II. Diseases and Ailments 41 

Diseases Caused by the Bicycle. Diseases Aggra- 
vated by the Bicycle. Diseases Benefited by the 
Bicycle. Anaemia, Catarrh, Constipation, Com- 
plexion, Dyspepsia, Headache, Hysteria, Insomnia, 
Melancholia, Obesity, Torpid Liver, etc., etc. 

III. The Bicycle for Women 54 

Effect on Dress. Effect on Health. Effect on Fe- 
male Diseases. Style of Wheel. Style of Saddle. 
Costumes. Position. 

rv. Morality of the Bicycle 80 

Short Skirts. Sunday Riding. Bicycle Manners. 
Drinking. Flirting. 

V. Appendix 91 

How to Select a Bicycle. Care and Management of 
a Machine. Parts of a Wheel. Table of Value and 
Digestibility of Foods. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PAGE 

1. Scorcher's Position — " Racers " 15 

2. Wrong Position—" Upright " 16 

3. Correct Position — " Inclined " 17 

4. Combination Tandem 24 

5. Loop Frame Tandem 54 

6. Long Skirt Costume. — Wrong Position 63 

7. Luey Costume — Correct Position 68 

8. Bloomer Costume — Wrong Position 72 

9. Diamond Frame Tandem 80 

10. Knickerbocker Costume — Female Scorcher 82 



PREFACE. 

I HAVE recently met with several cases of sickness 
produced by bicycle riding. And I have recently 
read a few magazine articles on the dangers of 
bicycling. And I have all along, ever since 
wheeling became popular, observed so many peo- 
ple of both sexes who did not derive benefit from 
their exercise, because of a lack of knowledge of 
the correct method of riding, that I am con- 
strained to take up my pen, with much diffidence, 
and endeavor to show those who do not ride prop- 
erly wherein lies their fault ; to explain to those 
who suffer bad effects from wheeling how to pur- 
sue this captivating sport with profit to their 
health ; and to satisfy those who have eschewed 
the pleasure which all their friends are enjoying, 
because of the doubt whether it is good for them, 
— that wheeling, when properly indulged, is the 
grandest institution of the nineteenth century. 



INTRODUCTORY. 

BICYCLING CONSIDERED AS AN EXERCISE. 

Medical authorities, with few exceptions, agree 
that bicycling is an excellent form of exercise. 
Some claim that it is general in its effects, others 
that certain parts of the body only are developed, 
and the '^ exceptions" hold that it is detrimental 
to the health in toto and ought never to be in- 
dulged, except after consultation with a physician. 
Of course it all depends on the point of view. 
Each one is right in a way. It is a general exer- 
cise if followed in the proper manner. It is a 
special exercise if pursued in the wrong way. It 
is distinctly detrimental to those who have cer- 
tain physical defects, who assume hurtful posi- 
tions, or who injudiciously ignore the limit of 
their physical powers. 

Few of its advocates have taken the trouble to 
explain how or why it is a general exercise. The 
reason may possibly lie in the fact that most peo- 
ple find it out for themselves when they learn to 

9 



10 INTRODUCTORY. 

^ride. After a few rides the novice finds that his 
muscles are aching all over his body from his 
neck to his ankles. And if he has been foolish 
enough to have undertaken a long ride at first he 
will find that the slightest movement of his trunk 
will cause him pain. But the argument is raised 
that after the initial stages the development of the 
muscles above the waist ceases ; thenceforth the 
legs and thighs only are involved, and of these 
only the extensor muscles do the work. 

It is necessary carefully to disprove this argu- 
ment ; for to reject it without consideration is to 
brand oneself an unreasoning enthusiast. It is 
true that bicycling is not a perfect all-round 
exercise. There is no one exercise in existence 
that is perfect. Swimming comes nearest to per- 
fection and I consider bicycling comes next. 
The lower extremities are certainly exercised the 
most in bicycling as they are also in swimming. If 
the upright position is assumed in cycling, the 
muscles of the back are not used any more than 
in walking. But if the correct position — i. e. 
the inclined position — which is described in the 
first chapter is maintained, the muscles of the 
back are used pretty much as they are in swim- 
ming. A person in this position constantly exer- 
cises most of the muscles of the whole body. The 



INTRODUCTORY. 11 

forward inclination of the body necessitates erec- 
tion of the head by the muscles at the back of the 
neck. The back is kept perfectly straight by the 
muscles of the back. The weight of the thorax 
is supported partly by the arms (muscles of 
shoulders). The arms are kept straight by the 
extensor muscles of the arms. In climbing hills 
slight traction is made on the handle bars (flexor 
muscles of arms). The accelerated breathing 
necessitates increased use of chest and abdomen 
(muscles of respiration). The downward push of 
pedals brings into play the extensor muscles of 
thigh and leg. The backward push of pedals 
exerts the muscles of calf of leg and ankle. The 
return of leg to flexed position calls into action 
the flexor muscles of thigh and leg. 

By this summary it will be seen that practially 
the only muscles left out are the swinging muscles 
of the arms. So much for the complete refuta- 
tion of the charge that wheeling develops only 
one set of muscles. 

Of the effect of wheelings on the general health 
the following pages will treat. Suffice it to say 
here that an ordinarily healthy individual who 
takes to wheeling with a desire to do it properly 
and in moderation will find his health improve as 
the legitimate sequence of fresh air in his lungs, 



12 INTRODUCTORY. 

stimulation to his nervous system, acceleration of 
his circulation, improved nutrition to his organs, 
and the perfect elimination of those waste prod- 
ucts of combustion which, if retained, facilitate 
the entrance of disease. 



WHEELING. 



I. HYGIENE. 

Fashion has declared wheeling to be *' au 
fait " ; physicians have asserted that it is health- 
ful ; proper mounting and correct costume have 
made it becoming, and nothing now remains to 
deter one from indulging in this exhilarating 
pastime but the price — and that is rapidly arriv- 
ing at a sum within the means of every one. If 
you have abstained thus far from mounting the 
silent steed and following your friends and neigh- 
bors along the smooth roads and sunny paths of 
the suburbs, or the picturesque highways of the 
country, we will suppose that all your doubts have 
been removed and you have decided to learn to 
ride. 

The first thing in order is to secure your wheel, 

and a few hints relative to its selection have been 

vouchsafed in the appendix to this volume. 

13 



14 WHEELING. 

Having purchased your wheel you will he next 
concerned about your costume. Many changes 
have been wrought in costume since bicycling first 
came into favor. The present regulation costume 
is the outgrowth of many experiments, and is the 
most serviceable and becoming that could be cre- 
ated. It consists of a French flannel shirt with a 
flowing tie ; knickerbocker breeches called bloom- 
ers, terminating in a wide band which buckles 
just beneath the knee, and held up by a leathern 
belt at the waist ; stockings of the Golf type — a 
plaid with a turnover at the calf ; low shoes of 
black or tan ; a short jacket of the English smok- 
ing style ; and a cap with a peak, made of any 
soft stuff, preferably of the same goods as the 
suit. 

The next thing is to adjust your wheel to your 
person, so that your position may be correct, and 
so render the task of learning to ride easier. Full 
directions on this subject are given in the appen- 
dix, under the heading ^^How to Select a 
Wheel." 

The position the rider assumes on his wheel is 
of vast importance in many respects. His health, 
his endurance, his control of the wheel, his power 
of propulsion, his speed, are all dependent upon 
his position in the saddle. Of such vital impor- 




Racing Position — " Bicycle Face 



PHOTO BY BUTLER 



— Page i§. 



HYGIENE. 15 

tance is this mooted subject, that a great many 
articles relative to it have found their way into 
print. Authorities on health and authorities on 
wheeling have each had their say, and the public 
is left to choose for itself. 

There are three distinct positions recognized : 
viz., the ^^ upright," the ''inclined," and the 
''scorcher's." All the authorities unite in con- 
demning the scorcher's position, except for 
racer's use. Then opinion is divided between the 
other two. It is regrettable that most of the 
medical men have favored the upright position 
and have strongly condemned the inclined posi- 
tion as little better than the scorcher's. On the 
other hand, practical bicyclists and a few physi- 
cians who have studied the subject, affirm that 
the inclined position is the only correct one. It 
may be all right in theory to "sit up straight," 
but sitting in a bicycle and sitting in a chair are 
two separate and distinct things, and are incom- 
parable. When I range myself with the practical 
bicyclists and firmly assert jthat the only correct 
position is the inclined one, I am fully aware that 
I have much weighted opinion against me and I 
will have to prove my assertion. 

I will first consider the upright position and 
endeavor to show how it is faulty. We will take 



16 WHEELING. 

any rider at random, on the boulevard, who 
affects the upright position and analyze his move- 
ment. His handle bars are curved up instead of 
down, his elbows slightly bent, and his arms sup- 
port none of his body weight. His saddle is well 
back over the rear wheel and he sits quite up- 
right. All the weight of his body is in his saddle, 
and of course that must be very comfortable or 
he will be sore after riding a short distance in it. 
His pedals are so far in advance of his seat that 
his leg to the knee is perpendicular and follows 
the pedal up and down like a pump-handle. The 
sole power of propulsion is the muscular exertion 
of the thigh and hip. The weight of the body 
instead of being a help is a hindrance — a dead 
weight. Now watch this rider go up a hill, and 
you will see him go slower and slower, and puff 
and blow and pull on his handle-bars, as though 
he were pulling himself up by his hands. 

The disadvantages of the upright position are 
more apparent in women than in men. As a 
rule a woman is liable to have her saddle too low 
as well as too far back, which makes the knee- 
action more pronounced. Then her handle bars 
are more likely to be curled up and she probably 
rides too high a gear. When she attempts the 
hill it will be a repetition of the old story — she 




PHOTO BY BUTLER 



Upright Position (male) — High Handle Bars 



— Page 1 6. 




PHOTO BY BUTLER 



Correct Position — Diamond Frame Wheel — Ram's Horn Handle Bars 

—Page ly. 



HYGIENE. 17 

will get very red in the face and finally dismount 
and walk up. 

Now, for a consideration of the inclined position 
and its advantages. We will suppose that your 
wheel is properly adjusted : that is, that your 
frame and crank bar are of suitable length, that 
the rear edge of your saddle is about twelve 
inches back of a plumb line dropped through the 
crank hanger, and that the handle bar curves 
slightly down, leaving the cork handles a half 
inch below the level of the seat. If your wheel 
is so adjusted you will naturally assume the 
correct position. Your back will form an angle of 
sixty degrees with the horizon. The back is kept 
perfectly straight from the neck to the hips and 
the head is slightly extended. The arms are also 
kept perfectly straight, for they support about 
twenty per cent, of the body weight when the 
wheel is at a stand-still. The hands should not 
be too far apart but come straight dov/n from the 
shoulder. The ball of the foot only should be 
placed on the pedal and the heel slightly raised. 
The knees are kept in close to the machine. 

When you have once ridden in this position you 
will appreciate its advantages. Briefly stated they 
are as follows : — The center of gravity of the body 
weight is directly over the crank wheel, where 



18 WHEELING. 

it belongs. Several objects are thus effected. 
The weight is equally distributed between the two 
wheels ; the power of the weight is added to the 
power of the muscular action, for the rider is 
directly over his work, and his weight can be con- 
centrated over either pedal ; the body weight 
being distributed between the three points, saddle, 
handle bar and pedal, there is less danger of a 
blow to his perineum, in going over a bump, for 
he can rise in his stirrups, as it were, which he 
could not do in the upright position. The wheel 
is more easily controlled when there is some 
weight on the handle bar ; its head is not so free, 
to use a turf expression. It is more easily 
mounted and, in case of a fall, the rider can more 
quickly and safely jump from the machine. 
And incredible as it may seem, there is less tend- 
ency to back-ache from the inclined position than 
from the upright. The element of lessened re- 
sistance to the wind might be considered another 
advantage of the inclined position. 

The objection to this position usually advanced 
by physicians, that the chest is cramped and 
the lungs compressed, has no foundation in fact. 
The back is not humped : it is held perfectly 
straight. The shoulders are not rounded : if any- 
thing they are pushed back. Then the head is 



HYGIENE. 19 

extended, which gives the chest even further lib- 
erty. The muscles at the back of the neck are 
constantly used, exerting a corrective influence 
to any stooping tendencies of the individual. 
In fact physical culturists place great importance 
on the development of the neck muscles when 
they desire to correct forward drooping of the 
head, familiarly known as student's droop. 

Two objections to this position are voiced by 
the female contingent. ^' The weight on the 
arm," says one ; ^^ I know my arms could never 
stand it." Which may be dismissed with one 
sentence. The weight is only felt by the arms at 
a stand-still or very slow pace. When the pace 
gets to be six or seven miles an hour, the weight 
is transferred to the pedals, for it is needed for 
the work to be done. 

*' But I am sure I would not look well that way. 
It is ungraceful. " Which depends upon the point 
of view. Custom and habit are responsible for a 
good many of our ideas of grace, style, and pro- 
priety. Once let the inclined position come into 
general vogue and you will wonder how you ever 
permitted yourself to ride through the street in 
the old awkward way. 

Learning to ride is not such a *^bete noir," if 
you are properly coached. The best way is to at- 



20 WHEELING. 

tend some good instruction school where in a few 
lessons you will learn enough to finish by yourself. 
Some of the bicycle manufacturing firms have 
established riding academies where instruction is 
given free to purchasers of their wheel. If, how- 
ever, you are so situated that you cannot attend 
one of these schools, the next best thing is to 
secure the services of a strong, patient friend and 
go to a smooth, unfrequented road, and with a 
firm determination to persevere until you suc- 
ceed, start in. 

The first thing to be learned is the art of falling. 
No matter how long you wheel, there is always 
the chance of a tumble, and if you know how to 
fall properly, you may save yourself some bruises 
and perhaps cuts or fractures. When you are 
sure you are going to fall, and not before, for you 
can often save yourself by clever manipulation of 
the steering apparatus, then abandon the wheel 
and save yourself. A wheel is less likely to be- 
come injured in falling by itself, than in your 
falling upon it. Let go of the handle bars, take 
your feet off of the pedals, stick out the foot of 
the side to which you are falling, and curl up the 
other. You will then clear your wheel and land 
on your feet. 

Balancing one's self on the wheel is thought by 



HYGIENE. 21 

beginners to be the first essential. They are 
entirely wrong. The body should not be swayed 
from side to side to preserve the balance. When 
the right position is assumed, the body from the 
hip up should be held perfectly still ; the balanc- 
ing is done by steering the front wheel to the side 
toward which you are falling. 

If you have the assistance of a friend, you will 
not have to learn how to mount first. Otherwise 
you will. In learning to mount, head your wheel 
for the down grade, place your left foot on the 
little projection on the rear axle, shove off with 
the right foot, raise up on your left foot, and bal- 
ance that way until the right pedal rises to its 
height, then place the right foot on it, glide into 
the saddle and seek the left pedal with the left 
foot. Experts are in the habit of mounting di- 
rectly from the pedal as a horse is mounted. 
This requires considerable skill. Dismounting, 
however, is done from the pedal. Just as the pedal 
reaches it lowest level, and is about to rise, stand 
up on it and fling the othei; leg over the saddle. 
Mounting from the pedal is done in the same 
manner. 

If your friend is with you let him hold the 
wheel steady while you mount it. Then all he 
has to do is to run by your side, maintaining a 



22 WHEELING. 

firm grip on your saddle to prevent you from fall- 
ing. It is not necessary for him to touch your 
body or clothing at all ; far better not to. As 
soon as you feel you have confidence enough to go 
it alone, do so ; the sooner the better. 

When you have once mastered the machine, like 
any other trick you will never forget how to do 
it. While you are learning it would be an excel- 
ent plan to practice gymnastics or calisthenics at 
the same time. One reason why wheeling is 
injurious to some is that it is attempted by peo- 
ple wholly unfit for any kind of exertion. Women 
who are in the habit of sitting around, sewing or 
novel-reading, will suddenly, on a bright day, take 
a long ride on their wheel, without any prepara- 
tion for it whatever. Small wonder then if it is 
disastrous. 

After you have learned to ride, then you can 
begin to pay some attention to how to ride prop- 
erly. The correct rider moves only his lower 
extremities, which move up and down with ma- 
chine-like regularity. His body above the hips, 
his head and arms are perfectly still and straight. 
The ball of the foot is on the pedal and the knees 
are close together. As the foot is pushed down,, 
the heel is slightly raised. This produces the 
ankle motion so often lost sight of. The wheel is 



HYGIENE. 23 

SO adjusted that when the pedal reaches its low- 
est point, the leg is not straight, but slightly bent. 
The best results are not obtained when the leg 
can be fully extended, and ankle work is lost. 

Hill climbing is the best test of a rider's style. 
Muscular power does not count so much as one 
would suppose. It is a common sight to see a 
small boy go up a hill faster than a man. In 
hill climbing the ankle movement is called prom- 
inently into requisition. It is thus described : 
Just as the pedal reaches the top, lower the heel 
and push forward, then downward, and as the 
pedal nears the bottom, raise the heel and push 
backward. Toe clips are of inestimable service 
both in ascending and descending hills. They 
prevent the foot from slipping off the pedal and 
thus losing control of the machine. At the be- 
ginning of a short hill, spurt a little to get up as 
far as possible before settling down to hard work. 
Then bend a little more forward over the wheel 
so as to concentrate the weight over the pedals 
and play the ankle movement, and you are all 
right. 

A change of position often becomes absolutely 
necessary to relieve the strain incident to main- 
taining one position for any length of time. It 
is well to have handle bars that curve slightly 



24 WHEELING. 

downward and backward, for they will then af- 
ford two positions for the hands : the ordinary 
one on the handles and a forward one on the cen- 
ter. It is well also to learn to ride with one hand 
and without hands, as in this way a number of 
positions can be assumed with relief to the rider. 

Never ride with the head down, as you do not 
see where you are going and a serious accident 
may occur. Always ring your bell when you 
are about to pass another rider, and always pass 
to his left. The general rule of the road to keep 
to the right is an excellent one ; there is some 
system about it and others are enabled to pass 
you. Always ring your bell before turning cor- 
ners, and when turning around in the road look 
behind you before you do so. Be careful of sand 
and wet or muddy pavements. In going over 
them give the wheel its head in sand and hold 
it rigid on wet pavements. 

In taking the first few rides do not attempt 
too great a distance. Going to nowhere and 
back is dull, I am aware, but going to some- 
where, several miles farther on, may overtax the 
endurance and discomfort will be the result. 

A few words might appropriately be said at 
this point concerning tandem riding. Nothing 
is more enjoyable when both riders are good 



HYGIENE. 26 

bicyclists and know each other's stroke. The 
perfect rhythm, the added power and increased 
pace, the greater endurance, make it very attrac- 
tive to most people. But do not be disappointed 
if your first ride is not as enjoyable as you antici- 
pated. You will have to ride with the same per- 
son several times before you get accustomed to 
each other's peculiarities, and so adapt your power 
with your stroke so that they will be uniform. 
To ride with different people is of course folly, 
unless you do not care whether you do all of the 
work or not. 

To breathe properly is probably the most impor- 
tant thing for the bicyclist to learn. Good wheel- 
ing depends as much on the knowledge of breath- 
ing as upon muscular strength. A philosopher 
has said that a horse runs with his legs but 
gallops with his lungs. It is certainly the fact 
that the record makers in bicycling have lungs of 
wonderful air capacity. But it is not essential 
to have big lungs if one knows how to use prop- 
erly what one has. -^ 

Theoretically, the wheelman ought to breathe 
through his nose, but this is not always possible. 
Not to say anything about deformities, obstruc- 
tions in the nasal passage, etc., the wheelman 
frequently becomes so excited in guiding his 



26 WHEELING. 

wheel that he forgets entirely about his nose 
and breathes through his wide-open mouth. In 
the beginning the wheelman has enough to think 
about without keeping his 'mind on his style of 
breathing, and many think that breathing through 
the nose is simple enough and is done automati- 
cally, without any thought about it, and it is, 
after the habit is acquired. But if you do not 
take the trouble to practice nose-breathing, you 
will often surprise yourself breathing through 
your mouth, especially when your pace is fast. 
The injurious effects of a column of cold air com- 
ing in direct contact on the overheated and deli- 
cate tissues of the larynx, bronchical tubes and 
lung structure is recognized by all physicians. It 
is the frequent cause of any or all of these diseases, 
— Pharyngitis, Laryngitis, Bronchitis, Pneumo- 
nia, Inflammation of the Tongue, Tonsilitis, Tooth- 
ache ; and it predisposes to consumption in two 
ways : — by weakening the resisting powers of the 
lung tissue and by inhaling directly any germ that 
may be present in the air. The fear of contract- 
ing one or more of these troubles alone should 
induce the wheelman to practice nose-breathing. 
The first condition of its success is to be sure 
the nasal canal is entirely free from obstructions. 
Many people have polypoid growths in their nose. 



HYGIENE. 27 

which they know nothing about. If such a thing 
is suspected, it would be well to have them re- 
moved by a nose specialist. If you have catarrh, 
or rhinitis, or cold in the head, they should be 
treated, for they are inimical to nose breathing. 
If the nasal mucous membrane is hyper-sensitive, 
you will have some trouble when the air is cold, 
for rapid riding necessitates rapid breathing, and 
the contact of the cold air induces a slight con- 
gestion and a free secretion, which is nature's 
protection to the membrane, and a frequent blow- 
ing of the nose is imperative. But when this 
becomes annoying, resort should not be had to 
mouth breathing, because the nose will get used 
to the cold air if persisted in. But if you breathe 
through the mouth for a while and then try to 
return to the nose, the same trouble will persist. 
Most people do not know how to use the muscles 
of their nose in breathing. They simply draw 
the air in, and if done slowly that is all that is 
necessary. But when you exert considerable mus- 
cular energy, whether in ruuning or wheeling, or 
any other exercise, if you do not use the muscles 
of your nose, you will find that the nostrils col- 
lapse. You can try it at this moment ; — take a 
sudden deep inspiration without using the nose 
muscles, and^you will seethe nostrils drawn in, 



28 WHEELING. 

thus materially lessening the lumen of the canal. 
When this happens on the road, the rider is apt to 
open his mouth, for it is necessary for him to get 
more air into his lungs than his nose allows. This 
is precisely the point where a knowledge of nose 
breathing saves a man. If you watch a horse 
which has been driven hard, you will see his nose 
dilate at every inhalation. These muscles keep 
the nostrils apart, thereby allowing a maximum 
column of air to enter the posterior nares, there to 
be warmed and moistened before entering the 
lungs. The horse uses these muscles automat- 
ically because he has been brought up to run- 
ning. The human being has to learn this trick. 

If, however, at any time you are compelled to 
breathe through the mouth, another little trick 
is worth knowing. That is, to place the tip of 
the tongue behind the upper front teeth. The col- 
umn of air is thus broken and strikes the under sur- 
face of the tongue first, which is copiously provided 
with large veins filled with warm venous blood and 
then circulates in the mouth before it is inhaled. 
If you put your tongue on the outside of your teeth, 
as is sometimes done, a sudden jolt may make you 
bite, it which is not very pleasant. 

The claim that the inclined position makes 
proper breathing impossible by preventing the 



HYGIENE. 29 

complete expansion of the lungs has been proven 
to be false. The fact that the arms are brought 
forward close to the chest does not mean that they 
interfere with the lateral expansion of the chest. 
The ribs do not expand to any extent laterally. 
Their principal motion is up and down in their 
anterior aspect. The erection of the head and the 
straightness of the back rather help this move- 
ment than otherwise. 

To keep your health in good order and receive 
the best nourishment from your food, you will 
want to know what to eat : — what foodstuffs con- 
tain the most nutriment ; how long it takes to 
digest them ; how soon you may ride after eat- 
ing ; what you may safely drink and when. 

One's strength comes from the food one eats. 
The greatest strength is undoubtedly produced by 
the most perfect assimilation of food. If you 
have a perfect digestive apparatus, you can eat 
anything, and your organs will separate the wheat 
from the chaff, assimilate the good, and throw 
off the bad. But if your digestion is not perfect, 
and few are, you will have to do some of the 
separating before the food enters your mouth. 

It would be impossible to lay down any hard- 
and-fast rule which would fitly govern all people 
in the matter of food. ^^ What is one man's meat 



30 WHEELING. 

is another's poison" applies nowhere more aptly 
than here. Each person is constituted differently. 
Unless you are in training, you will wisely follow 
your regular habits if they do not conflict with 
the following general rules. 

Give your stomach time to digest the food you 
have put into it. From two to four hours are re- 
quired to complete digestion, but of course wheel- 
ing is not tabooed all this time, or the wheelman 
would do naught else but eat and rest. But at 
least a half hour should intervene after a heavy 
meal before taking to the wheel. Digestion will 
then have had time to get well under way and 
will progress favorably if too hot a pace is not 
attempted. If you are on an excursion, or tour- 
ing, and must take to the road right after eating, 
it would be well to remember those dishes which 
are hard to digest and avoid consuming them. 
A table of the time required to digest each of the 
common articles of food is appended. 

The subject of drink is worth a deal of consid- 
eration. The cause of thirst, what best quenches 
it, what one should not drink, the opinion of the 
medical profession in regard to the fancy drinks, 
etc., are all questions which profoundly interest 
the bicyclist. 

Thirst is the cry of nature for water with which 



HYGIENE. 31 

to dilute the blood. The method of its production 
is as follows : The water in the body is eliminated 
either through the kidneys, skin or lungs. When 
work or exercise or hot weather is severe enough 
to produce perspiration, an increased amount is 
excreted, and therefore, to maintain the balance, 
an added amount is required, and if not supplied, 
thirst is produced. In wheeling all the essentials 
are present : muscular exercise, free perspiration 
and rapid breathing. There is another element 
added in those who breathe through their mouth : 
the throat and mouth become parched by the cold 
dry air passing through them and resort to fre- 
quent drinking is imperative. 

The only thing that will effectually quench 
thirst is water. Popular opinion to the contrary 
notwithstanding, all drinks are valuable as thirst- 
quenchers in proportion to the water they con- 
tain. Thirst is sometimes masked by the substi- 
tution of another sensation : bitterness, sourness, 
sweetness, etc., and a person may be fooled into 
thinking that a small quantity of a liquid con- 
taining lemon and sugar answers the same pur- 
pose as a larger quantity of pure water. It would 
not be safe to tell everybody to drink as much as 
they want, for some would surely commit very 
grievous error ; so that a few general rules may 



32 WHEELING. 

be laid down. Never drink ice water or iced 
drinks. Never drink more than a swallow at a 
time when you are overheated ; wait until you 
are cooled off and then drink all you want of cool 
water. During a long ride, stop whenever you 
are thirsty and drink a few swallows of cool 
water ; ride very slowly after it for five minutes 
and then resume your regular pace. You will 
be surprised at your increased endurance if you 
observe this little trick. 

The theory that warm drinks quench thirst 
better than cold ones is a warped one. If you 
feel warm you would not build a fire in your room 
and close the windows. The idea of taking warm 
drinks is to drive the blood into the interior of the 
body and so make the skin feel cooler, when 
nature is striving to do exactly the opposite — to 
send the blood to the surface where it can be cooled 
off. 

The less coffee or tea a wheelman consumes, 
the better off he will be. Neither of them con- 
tains a bit of nourishment ; they are stimulating 
to the heart, and are consequently injurious to 
that organ. 

As to liquors, whatever you do at other times, 
do not touch them while wheeling. Nothing re- 
quires a clear head, a steady hand and unshaken 



HYGIENE. 33 

nerves more than cycling. The same thing may 
be said about beer. It is soporific as well as in- 
toxicating, and a common effect is a feeling of 
weakness after its use. If a bitter drink must be 
had, a little quassia or gentian left standing in a 
pitcher of water will impart a bitter flavor, hav- 
ing also a tonic effect. 

Soda water and lemonade are not so good as 
plain water in many respects. In small quantity 
they do not satisfy, and one cannot drink much 
of them because they will produce stomach-ache, 
as well as bankruptcy. Vichy would be good if 
it were not for the gas — but in that event it would 
not be Vichy. Milk is a geo^lfp^ 
It is nourishing, it quenclies_ 
agreeable to most everybody. 
little lime-water makejj. it iligesl 
delicate stomach. Kutt^bfiiiH?: 

Of the different fancy drinks, iron tonics, blood- 
purifiers, magic strength-imparters, etc., it is 
necessary to say very little. Leave them alone, 
one and all, from A to Z. JThey are apt to do 
you more harm than good. It is true the effects 
of Kola and its class are increased strength, en- 
durance, wind and general well-being, as long 
as you continue to take them in ever-increasing 

doses, but when you stop — what then ? Collapse. 
3 




34 WHEELING. 

And it will take a long time for your system to 
recover from their pernicious influence. 

If you require a drink that shall be strengthen- 
ing as well as refreshing, you can take nothing 
better than a glass of cool water with a teaspoon- 
f ul of Wyeth's Beef Juice in it. The nourishment 
in that will be equal in amount to what is con- 
tained in a half-pound of steak. 

People do not generally understand that they 
breathe through their skin as well as through 
their lungs. When the skin is clean and the 
pores open, the blood is brought close to the sur- 
face, in the fine veins and capillaries, and carbon 
dioxide is given off and oxygen taken in to re- 
plenish the tissues. When on excursions a bath 
should be indulged in every morning before the 
start. At other times, a bath at the end of a ride 
is the most serviceable and refreshing. If a cold 
bath is taken, a good reaction of the skin should 
be induced by friction with a rough towel, or if 
that is not sufficient, with the hands. 

Most people will not be foolhardy enough to 
plunge their head in a spring or tub of cold water, 
or hold their head under a pump, after they have 
been riding hard, and are very warm. But some 
will, and for the benefit of these, it is referred to. 
Such an act would cause such profound reaction 



HYGIENE. 35 

that cerebral congestion might result. It would 
certainly produce head-ache, dizziness, and per- 
haps vomiting in any person who was not strong 
as an ox. 

Another thing to be warned against is going in 
bathing or swimming, in the ocean, too soon after 
a long hot ride. The system has hardly had time 
to recover from the tax of a hard ride before an- 
other strain is put upon it in the shape of battling 
the breakers. 

The subject of training will interest only those 
who contemplate entering races. If you have 
decided to race, it is necessary to train, and the 
first thing to do is, to see your doctor, and find 
out whether you are physically sound and can 
stand exhausting work, for, if you have some 
physical defect in heart, lungs or kidneys, of 
which, of course, you knew nothing, they may be 
aggravated by training and result in permanent 
injury perhaps. You will then save yourself the 
disappointment of much self-denial for nothing, 
and avoid the risk of collapse after a race. 

If you are physically sound it would be well to 
enter a gymnasium and consult the director or 
trainer. He will advise you what sort of exercise 
you need most to put you in good general condi- 
tion. Light work, such as vaulting, running, 



Q 



6 WHEELING. 



punching-bag and class work with light dumb 
bells, and Indian clubs, and light-weight chest 
machines is the best. The idea is not to produce 
muscle so much as a generally sound condition. 
Three or four weeks of this kind of work will fit 
you for the wheel and the road work. It would 
be well at this juncture to make out a daily plan, 
and follow it rigidly, for much depends on regu- 
larity and system ; a good schedule would be as 
follows : Arise at seven, take a cold bath, secur- 
ing a good reaction by a Turkish towel ; breakfast 
at eight ; rest an hour and a half ; put on your 
sweater and mount your wheel for a run of ten 
miles at an even pace ; upon returning strip (in a 
warm room) and rub yourself dry with a Turkish 
towel and follow with hand massage. A little 
alcohol and witch-hazel, equal parts, is good to 
keep the muscles pliable. If possible have an- 
other person do the massage, as it can thus be 
done more thoroughly and seems to have a better 
effect. Have your dinner between twelve and 
one and rest at least two hours after it. Then 
take to the road again for another spin, which 
should not be as long as the morning ride. Upon 
returning, have yourself rubbed down, just as 
you did in the morning. Have your supper at 
six o'clock and go to bed at ten. A full night's 



HYGIENE. 37 

sleep, say of ten hours, is essential, for the recu- 
peration of the vital forces. Your bill of fare 
should be constructed about as follows : 

Breakfast : — Fruit, oatmeal, hominy or other 
cereal, broiled chops or steak, or eggs in any 
style, stale white bread, graham bread or toast, 
cocoa, or weak tea. Avoid : Fried foods, hashes, 
meat-pies, sausage, griddle-cakes, coffee, and 
strong tea. 

Dinner : — Soup, oysters or clams, roast meats 
(except pork, veal, and corned beef), vegetables 
(plain cooked or fresh), very little potatoes, dessert 
(puddings or prepared fruits). Avoid : Gravy 
soups, pork, veal, corned beef or fried meats, 
pastry, pies, confections, beer, wines or liquors. 

Supper : — White or brown bread, toast, crack- 
ers, eggs, or a small piece of cold meat, tongue or 
fowl, cheese, preserved fruit, small piece plain 
cake, milk or buttermilk, cocoa or weak tea. 
Avoid : Preserved or potted meat, hashes, lob- 
ster or crabs, sausage, fresh biscuits, strong tea 
or coffee. 

Eat slowly, chew your food thoroughly, drink 
very little while eating, eat enough but not to 
repletion, and rest afterward, are all rules to be 
strictly followed. 

Smoking is prohibited unless you have been an 



38 WHEELING. 

inveterate, when it is not cut off entirely, but cut 
down to just sufficient to keep the nerves from 
rebelling. 

It will thus be seen that training is not fun and 
requires steadfast determination to go through 
with it. 

It becomes monotonous to ride over the same 
road every day, especially if you are out for pleas- 
ure, so that occasionally you will go off on an ex- 
cursion either with a party, or with one or two 
companions. If you go out with a club, you will 
probably extract very little enjoyment from your 
trip. A few of the strong men and experienced 
riders set the pace and the rest are expected to 
keep up with it. 

The spirit of emulation and rivalry and pride 
exerts you to keep it up until you are about ex- 
hausted and even then you hate to give in. Most 
of the injurious effects of wheeling can be traced 
to this source. Most people would not ride too 
far if they were alone. If they had to go a long 
distance, they would at least stop and rest. An- 
other common cause of over fatigue, is the habit 
of some to ride out in one direction until they are 
tired, forgetting they have the same distance to 
return. Then if the wind is behind you going 
outj it will be in your face coming back, and will 



HYGIENE. 39 

require twice the exertion and endurance. When 
you start out to ride, you should have some defi- 
nite goal in view and know how far it is there and 
back by the road you intend to take. If a point is 
five miles away by one road, it may be ten by a 
more circuitous one. 

If you do not enjoy scenery and variety, stick to 
the highways and bicycle paths. Otherwise it 
will pay you to turn off into the byways and cross- 
roads, now and then. The roads may not be so 
good, but you will see some of the country which 
is perhaps new to you. 

A century is a run of one hundred miles at one 
stretch. My advice to the average rider is to 
never attempt a century. If you ride as far as 
you feel able, without regard for the number of 
miles, and when you look at your cyclometer, and 
find you have made a hundred miles, all right. 
It will not hurt you, done in that way. But the 
frenzied ambition, so often met with, to run a 
century, and brag about it to your friends, is re- 
sponsible for many of the bad effects of wheeling. 
The idea back of a century, is to make the run 
in as short a time as possible. Thereby you miss 
the scenery, you do not take time enough to eat, 
or drink, or rest, and you put a severe strain on 
your muscular and nervous system. 



40 WHEELING. 

If against this advice, you do attempt a cent- 
ury, you will do it with least harm to yourself 
by observing the following rules, which apply as 
well to all riding. 

Take it easy. Do not attempt too hot a pace. 
Walk up the steep hills, especially at the begin- 
ning of a ride, or take a road to avoid them. Take 
plenty of time for eating, and when you are thirsty 
or tired, dismount, drink a little cool water and 
rest at least five minutes. When you can no 
longer breathe through your nose, but must open 
your mouth, it is time to slow up, or stop and 
rest. 



DISEASES AND AILMENTS. 41 



II.— DISEASES AND AILMENTS. 

The physician regards the bicycle as an agent 
for the weal or woe of the physical health. 
When the bicycle first came into popular use, the 
medical profession did not seriously consider it as 
a factor for good or bad, because the general im- 
pression was, that wheeling was simply a fad, a 
passing fancy, and would quickly run its course 
to desuetude, as did roller skating before it. But 
the conclusion gradually became dominant that 
wheeling had come to stay, and then a shower 
of literature on the subject fell all around us. 
Some were violently opposed to it, and others 
were strongly in favor of it, so that the public, 
not knowing exactly what to do, went ahead and 
learned to ride, in ever increasing numbers. Then 
the clinical cases came in and physicians could 
consider the effect of wheeling from practical ex- 
perience. Most of those who were opposed to it 
changed their opinion, until now there is hardly 
a medical man who will not concede the virtues 
of bicycling, under proper conditions and limit- 
ations. 



42 WHEELING. 

That the bicycle may prove hurtful to some 

people is not denied. Considered as a harmful 

agent, it can produce injury in two ways. It 

can cause disease in a healthy individual and it 

' can aggravate existing diseases. 

A violation of any of the rules of correct riding 
is the only method of inducing injurious conse- 
quences in a healthy person. Of course a great 
many people think they are healthy when they 
are not, and this statement would not apply to 
them. 

Health has been defined as the performance of 
all the bodily functions by the different organs 
without consciousness of their existence. 

If a healthy person assumes a wrong position, 
sits in a bad saddle, rides too far or too fast, 
breathes improperly, etc., they may not become 
seriously ill, but they cannot derive the best bene- 
fits from wheeling. 

The ailments which may be produced by faulty 
riding have been alluded to, but it may not be 
amiss to mention them again. 

Breathing cold air through the mouth may 
cause toothache, sore throat, bronchitis, etc., 
beside the bad effects of dust and germs carried 
directly into the lungs. 

A bent position, where, for instance, you try 



DISEASES AND AILMENTS. 43 

to sit upright and reach over for your handle 
bars, will contract the lungs and produce round 
shoulders. The inclined position, however, throws 
the shoulders back and expands the lungs. 

If you have a faulty saddle, one too narrow or 
with a ridge in the center which presses on the 
soft parts, instead of supporting the bony parts, 
chafing, swelling, tumors, contusions, inflamma- 
tion of the prostate or scrotum will be produced. 

If you ride too fast, you may get a headache 
or become dizzy from the effect of the rapidly 
passing objects on the optic nerves, or the sing- 
ing of the wind in the ears. 

Or, if you ride too far, exhaustion, collapse, 
muscular tremors, weakness, headache, insomnia, 
loss of appetite, vomiting, nervous depression, 
melancholia, or even a mild form of insanity, may 
result. The contestants in the six-days' races, in 
New York were all hardy, well-trained men, but 
most of them showed the effect of such long 
riding by exhibitions of despondency, insomnia, 
suspicions of foul play, bysterical crying or 
laughing, refusing to eat, riding backwards, etc. 

But taking for granted that the correct method 
of riding is followed and all the rules observed, 
it can be positively stated that the use of the bi- 
cycle will not only not hurt a healthy person, but 



44 WHEELING. 

will materially benefit certain chronic diseases, 
to be hereafter considered. 

But let us first take up the diseases which will 
be aggravated by wheeling. 

All acute diseases should necessarily prohibit 
the bicycle. By acute diseases is meant those 
diseases which are of sudden onset, rapid prog- 
ress and short duration. For example, a fever, 
such as measles, or a cold, such as bronchitis, or 
an inflammation, such as rheumatism, is an acute 
disease. 

If there is a tendency to apoplexy, wheeling 
should not be indulged. The excitement and the 
exertion might cause a rupture, which might re- 
sult in unconsciousness and death. 

Bright's Disease in most of its forms. Consump- 
tion when advanced beyond its first stage. Or- 
ganic heart disease (i. e. when the valves are 
affected), are all conditions which should taboo 
the bicycle. 

Made into a list they would appear as follows : 

1. All Acute Diseases. 

2. Apoplexy (tendency to) 

3. Bright's Disease. 

4. Bronchitis. 

5. Consumption (after first stage). 

6. Dropsy (symptom) 



DISEASES AND AILMENTS. 45 

7. Diarrhoea. 

8. Fevers. 

9. Heart disease (organic). 

10. Inflammation. 

11. Kheumatism. 

12. Certain Female Diseases (Chapter III.). 
There are also certain conditions of health 

which should forbid wheeling. These will be 
mentioned in the chapter for women. 

As a remedial agent, bicycling is to be con- 
sidered as curative and as prophylactic. Pro- 
phylaxis means the prevention of disease. 
Bicycling prevents disease by its beneficent action 
on the general health. We speak of the action 
of a drug, and we can speak of the action of a 
bicycle, meaning its action on the human organ- 
ism — not its mechanical action. Like a drug, its 
action can be analyzed, and its character classi- 
fied. Also like a drug, it is potent for good when 
rightly taken and poisonous when over-dosed or 
injudiciously administered. 

Classified it stands as a tonic, and a stimulant ; 
tonic to the general system, stimulant to the heart 
and nervous system. Herein lies the secret of 
its beneficent influence on certain chronic com- 
plaints. 

Diseases become chronic because the system 



46 WHEELING. 

does not fully regain its normal tone after an 
acute illness. Tonics are given with the view of 
re-establishing this normal tone and so overcome 
the disease. How the bicycle does this is an in- 
teresting study and worth careful analysis. 

In the first place, wheeling is an exercise — an 
outdoor exercise, and as such exerts its greatest 
influence ; — for all outdoor exercise is tonic in 
action. If people would live more generally out 
of doors and less in artificially heated apart- 
ments, the increase in their health would aston- 
ish them. But for various reasons, out-door ex- 
ercise, with the exception of walking, is not access- 
ible at all times, to all people. Mountain climb- 
ing, tennis, rowing, swimming, base-ball, etc., 
etc., etc., demands a certain season of the year. 
Horseback riding is too expensive but for the 
few. So that unless one walked all the time, or 
occasionally ran, his out-door exercise was limited 
to a few months in the summer. And even then 
outdoor exercise was not general, because its dif- 
ferent forms were not accessible to all. 

Is it any wonder that the bicycle was received 
with such general enthusiasm. It filled a long- 
felt want. It was attractive, convenient, acces- 
sible and inexpensive, suitable for both sexes, old 
and young, rich and poor ; capable of indulgence 



DISEASES AND AILMENTS. 47 

at all seasons, except when snow lay on the 
ground. 

'The first effect manifested by wheeling is 
stimulation. The heart beats faster and with 
more power. This is necessitated by the action 
of the muscles, which, when exercised, demand 
more blood, to carry off the effete carbon dioxide 
and replace it with oxygen. 

The demand for oxygen, which is taken from 
the air by the blood while it is in the lungs, in- 
creases the rapidity and depth of the inspiration. 
The fresh air supplies oxygen to the blood, and 
the blood supplies it to the tissues, which become 
better nourished through this extra supply of 
nutrition sent to them. Thus the organs secrete 
more abundantly and perform their function 
more normally. Digestion is improved and 
physical power is increased by the more perfect 
assimilation of the food. 

By this somewhat terse explanation it will be 
seen that if the circulation is improved, each part 
of the body will be benefited. This is the secret 
of the success of the bicycle in curing many 
chronic affections. 

Besides being an exercise, wheeling is a relaxa- 
tion, a diversion and an exhilaration. Many of 
the chronic nervous affections are caused by too 



48 WHEELING. 

close an application to business or study, to 
mental strain, worry or care. Wheeling takes one 
away from the study, the shop, the office, or the 
salesroom, with their confinement, or their bustle, 
or their perplexities and sets the muscles work- 
ing, and the lungs breathing, and the mind at 
work in a different sphere : — either the peaceful 
contemplation of nature, or the excitement of 
rapid motion and exhilarating sport. 

Then the effect of pleasant companionship is 
not to be overlooked. The social contact of in- 
dividuals does much to smooth out the wrinkles 
of care and buoy up the heart of despondency. 
Brooding over trouble, moroseness, pessimism, 
all vanish before the tonic of a good companion. 

Wheeling is thus seen to possess the stimulating 
effect of exercise, and the tonic effect of relaxa- 
tion, diversion, exhilaration and companionship. 
It stimulates the circulation and thereby the nu- 
trition, secretion and digestion. Eemembering 
this, it will be easy to understand how it helps 
the affections now to be considered. 

Acne (or pimples), Eczema, etc. — The blood is 
improved in quality. The activity of the skin is 
increased by the exercise and the increased cir- 
culation. The action of the wind and sun helps 
the process. 



DISEASES AND AILMENTS. 49 

Diseases of the Head and Nerves : Chorea 
{St. Vitus Dance)^ Earache, Epilepsy {fits), Head- 
ache, Hysteria, Insomnia, Irritability, Lumbago, 
Melancholia, Migraine, Nervousness, Neuralgia, 
Toothache. — By improving the general health the 
nerves are better nourished. By exercising the 
muscles the blood is drawn away from the head. 
The relaxation, change of scene, exhilaration — 
all rest the mind and restore the balance which is 
necessary to maintain health. 

Diseases of the Lungs and Respiratory Pas- 
sage : Asthma, Catarrh, Consumption {1st stage), 
Hay Fever. — The improved general health and 
increased blood supply have a good effect on these 
diseases. The increased lung expansion coupled 
with the inspiration of the fresh air is the best 
possible treatment for incipient consumption. 
After consumption has progressed, however, be- 
yond the first stage, i. e. when parts of the lungs 
are solidified, or cavities exist, bicycling is apt to 
bring on hemorrhages. It will also cause ex- 
haustion very soon, in this^state. Therefore the 
wheel should be used by consumptives only after 
consultation with a physician. 

Diseases of the Stomach and Digestion : An- 
orexia {lost appetite), Constipation, Dyspepsia, 
Flatidence, Gastric Catarrh, Indigestion. — This 



60 , WHEELING. 

is the class of diseases most benefited by wheel- 
ing. The exercise, the fresh air, the exhilaration, 
etc., increase the appetite. The increased sup- 
ply of improved blood sent to the organs ele- 
vates their tone to the limit of health and the 
glands secrete more freely. Thus the food 
is better digested and constipation is over- 
come. 

Diseases of the Heart and Circulation : Ance- 
mia (paleness), Fainting Habit, Heart Disease 
{certain kinds). — The improved condition of the 
blood helps the Anaemia. The only thing to do 
where heart disease is suspected is to consult a 
physician and abide by his decision. It would be 
impossible to instruct the general reader how to 
tell what kind of heart disease he has. If you be- 
come short of breath on going upstairs, or after 
other slight exertion, or if your heart palpitates, 
or your skin gets blue at times, or your feet swell, 
you would better see a physician at once, for they 
are symptoms of heart disease. In all functional 
disorders of the heart, bicycling does good. For 
instance, smoker's heart is a functional disease, as 
is also nervous palpitation. 

Diseases of the Liver and Kidneys : Brighfs 
Disease (chronic), Jaundice, Torpid Liver. — 
The general systemic improvement exerts a ben- 



DISEASES AND AILMENTS. 51 

eficial effect on these diseases. The liver is more 
profoundly affected by horseback riding, but the 
influence of wheeling, if not so marked, is at least 
good. 

General Systemic Conditions : Atony {Ema- 
ciation), Debility, Gout, Malaria, Obesity, Opium 
Habit, Scrofula, etc. — As wheeling tends to 
boost the general health up to its normal standard, 
these conditions, which exist only as the result of, 
or in conjunction with poor health, are markedly 
benefited. Obesity is itself a disease, and as 
such will be relieved by anything which tends to 
improve the general health. This is one way in 
which wheeling reduces weight. The other is by 
tbe combustion incident to the exercise. Many 
people do not understand how wheeling will make 
one person stout and reduce the flesh on another. 
Excessive thinness or excessive fatness are both 
variations from the normal health standard which 
is peculiar to each individual. By helping the 
system to approach this individual standard, the 
trick is done. 

Female Diseases will be considered in the next 
chapter. 

If an alphabetical list of the diseases which are 
benefited by the bicycle were made, it would 
appear as follows : 



62 WHEELING. 

1. Acne (pimples). 

2. Anaemia (paleness). 

3. Anorexia (lost appetite). 

4. Asthma (hay fever). 

5. Atony (emaciation). 

6. Bright's Disease (chronic). 

7. Catarrh. 

8. Chorea (St. Vitus' dance). 

9. Constipation. 

10. Consumption (1st stage). 

11. Debility. 

12. Dyspepsia. 

13. Earache. 

14. Eczema. 

15. Epilepsy (fits). 

16. Fainting Habit. 

17. Flatulence (wind on stomach). 

18. Gastric Catarrh (catarrh of stomach). 

19. Gout. 

20. Hay Fever. 

21. Headache. 

22. Heart Disease (certain kinds). 

23. Hysteria. 

24. Indigestion. 

25. Insomnia. 

26. Irritability. 

27. Jaundice. 



DISEASES AND AILMENTS. 63 

28. Lumbago. 

29. Malaria. 

30. Melancholia. 

31. Migraine. 

32. Nervousness. 

33. Neuralgia. 

34. Obesity. 

35. Opium Habit. 

36. Scrofula. 

37. Toothache. 

38. Torpid Liver. 

39. Certain Female Diseases or Conditions. 



54 WHEELING. 



Ill,— THE BICYCLE FOR WOMEN. 

The advent of the bicycle was a glorious boon 
to womankind. Multitudes of the fair sex owe 
increased health and lighter spirits to this ingen- 
ious nechanism, aptly yclept the ^'silent steed. '^ 
Time was when women were regarded as chattels, 
the same as chairs or bedsteads, and they were ex- 
changed and bartered like horses or cows. Ever 
since that time woman's emancipation from the 
enslavements of habit, custom, fashion and con- 
servatism has been continuous and progressive, 
until now the bicycle seems destined to annihilate 
the last remaining fetter which binds her to servi- 
tude and renders futile her effort to be man's 
equal, if not his superior in everything save crude 
strength. The subject of woman's dress has 
occupied the minds of philosophers and dema- 
gogues for a long time. In spite of all the efforts 
of reformers to change it, the trailing skirt is still 
with us — or rather, has been with us until the 
bicycle wrought a change. 

From time immemorial, woman has been 
clothed in the very graceful and modest but 



THE BICYCLE FOR WOMEN. 65 

very unhygienic and inconvenient trailing skirt. 
Whether our great-great-grandmothers regarded 
them as a nuisance or not, has not been handed 
down by history, so that we do not know, but it is 
positively asserted by the women of to-day that 
long skirts are decidedly inconvenient at times. 
Especially those women who exercise the privilege 
of this decade and take part in business declare the 
long skirt hampers them in many ways. In wet 
weather it becomes wet and muddy and uncom- 
fortable and dangerous to health. In dry weather 
it sweeps the streets and stirs up the microbes in 
swirling dust clouds. But the main objection to 
it by the up-to-date woman is its impediment to 
the pursuit of exercise in a free and untrammeled 
way. So great is the impediment that when 
bicycle riding was attempted with long skirts, 
it became dangerous, and the alternative immedi- 
ately arose either to eschew the bicycle or dis- 
card the skirts. So strong had the love of the 
wheel grown in the female breast that all the pre- 
cedent of ages was thrown to the winds ; the 
bicycle was retained and the skirts cut down. 
Thus did the bicycle accomplish what reformers 
and philosophers and demagogues had striven in 
vain to do. 
But as important as the reform in dress is, the 



56 WHEELING. 

bicyle has succeeded in effecting another innova- 
tion in the life of women. It has taught her that 
the condition of health depends a great deal upon 
regular systematic exercise. Not that this is a 
new theory just discovered ; it has been recognized 
for ages, and its precepts followed by the male sex 
generally and a few sensible women who have 
organized gj^mnasia and athletic clubs. But it 
takes a great deal of strong mind and tenacity of 
purpose to swing clubs and pull at weights for any 
length of time, and then it is not out-door exer- 
cise, and is devoid of the spirit of sport. So that 
the scope of the gymnasia and athletic clubs was 
limited to the few. 

The great majority of women had no oppor- 
tunity for healthful out-door exercise, except such 
as was presented for a few months in the summer 
season. Even then only the few were benefited, 
for rowing, or mountain climbing, or tennis, or 
swimming, depended upon a trip to the country, 
which in itself was expensive if extended, and a 
trip of a few weeks was of no material benefit, 
for it could not be expected to last over the fifty 
weeks of the rest of the year. 

Then what was the daily life of the average 
woman during the winter months ? Those who 
did not occupy themselves with house- work, which 



THE BICYCLE FOR WOMEN. 57 

is woman s safety-valve for many of her nervous 
troubles, were compelled to sit around in-doors, 
during the day, reading or sewing or gossiping, 
and building up towers of headaches and mount- 
ains of backaches ; or perhaps indulging in a 
shopping tour, with its constant standing and 
walking in dusty streets and dustier stores ; jos- 
tling and pushing amidst bustling crowds ; a ten- 
sion to the nerves, a strain to the muscles and an 
insult to the lungs. 

The manner in which the evening to such a 
day was spent was even worse. A trip to the 
theater means from two to three^ hours in an over- 
heated, poorly ventilated room, sitting still in a 
narrow seat, often with the street wraps unre- 
moved. Many people on coming from a theater 
have a desire to yawn and stretch themselves — 
signs that the system needs exercise. Men pri- 
marily went out between the acts simply to stretch 
themselves and get a breath of fresh air. The 
drinking was an afterthought. If not to the 
theater, perhaps a dance is attended. The same 
unsanitary conditions of overheat, bad venti- 
lation and dust prevail here, no matter where 
the dance is given. If the dancing is done on a 
crash or carpet, fine particles of floss or napp are 
whirled into circulation, to be inhaled ; and if on 



68 WHEELING. 

a board floor, although not so bad, still some dust 
and fine splinters will find a resting-place in the 
lungs. 

The evening may be spent in bowling. Women 
entirely unused to muscular exertion will attempt 
to bowl an entire evening, with the effect that 
their right arm is nearly paralyzed before they 
cease and remains lame for days afterward 
Bowling would not be so bad, if both hands were 
used, but as it is at present, only one side of the 
body is developed. 

If one wants to be convinced of what bicycling 
has done for our women, let him compare a mod- 
ern, up-to-date bicycle girl with a girl who has 
followed a mode of life similar to that outlined 
above. The springy step, the erect carriage, the 
clear eye, the fresh complexion, the well-balanced 
poise of the head and body, all proclaim the new 
order of things — the triumph of the bicycle. 

Wheeling is an alluring outdoor exercise. It 
can be indulged during the major part of the year 
by old and young, rich and poor, male and female. 
It is a sport which will permit of single solitary 
enjoyment or participation by any number of 
people together. It is particularly attractive to 
women on account of its novelty. It is something 
new for them to have opportunity to enjoy ex- 



THE BICYCLE FOR WOMEN. 59 

hilarating out-door exercise without restraint. 
The rapid and easy motion, the companionship, the 
competition, the exploration of new country, each 
adds its charm. The bicycle has become a fixture 
in the life of womankind. 

Compared with horseback riding, wheeling has 
everything in its favor. In the first place the 
position of the rider on a bicycle is vastly better 
than that usually assumed by women on a horse. 
When women progress far enough to ride a horse 
astraddle, this difference will vanish. The at- 
tempt to sit on a horse sideways and look straight 
ahead is wrong in principle and detrimental to 
physical beauty. The wonder is that more cases 
of curvature of the spine are not reported as the 
result of the present fashion. 

The jolting of horseback riding is regarded by 
some as good for the liver. This is not denied 
here ; but if good for the liver, it is decidedly 
bad for the pelvic organs. In wheeling there is 
no jolting to speak of. 

The cheapness of the bicycle compared with the 
horse is apparent to all. The silent steed requires 
no stable, no feed, nor any water. Safety is also 
a consideration of importance. Although many 
cases of bad falls from the bicycle have been re- 
ported, they are due to carelessness of the rider, 



60 WHEELING. 

generally. A wheel will not get frightened and 
run away, or shy, or balk, or otherwise misbe- 
have, as a horse is apt to do. 

Critics, dissenters and moralists have antagon- 
ized the bicycle for women for various reasons, 
chief among which is its moral influence. This 
phase of wheeling has acquired such importance 
through sensational discussions and newspaper 
articles, that it will be carefully considered in the 
next chapters. The other pretext of the critics 
lies in the field of health. 

The subject is of course an important one, for 
everybody prizes health. Especially is this so in 
the feminine world. The questions usually heard 
on all sides are : — ^'Is it healthful for a woman 
to ride the bicycle ? " and '^ Are conditions of 
chronic female complaints benefited by wheel- 
ing?" 

The argument most commonly advanced by the 
critic is that bicycle riding is akin to operating 
on the sewing machine, and it is hard to under- 
stand how a physician can recommend one and 
condemn the other. 

It ceases to be difficult of comprehension when 
the two are analyzed and their differences con- 
trasted, for they are as different as can be. 

The sewing machine necessitates a stooping 



THE BICYCLE FOR WOMEN. 61 

posture, similar to that assumed by some people 
in writing or studying. It is fine work : the 
needle must follow a straight line close to the 
edge of a fabric and not run over the edge. Close 
application is necessary, and the eye and the mind 
are constantly concentrated on the work going on, 
at the same time the legs are constantly moving 
from the knees down, in a see-saw motion, and 
both together. They occupy a position in advance 
of the body and support none of its weight. There 
is no alternate motion such as the spinal cord is 
accustomed to in the acts of walking, running, 
etc. Add to this the fact that the operator is sit- 
ting still, in a confined, indoor atmosphere, with 
no diversion or change, for perhaps a whole day 
at a time, and you have before you the fac- 
tors potent in rendering sewing by the machine 
harmful. 

In bicycling there is no stooping posture ; the 
eyes are not concentrated upon a spot within 
twelve inches of the nose ; there is abundant mo- 
tion, lots of excitement, plenty of diversion ; the 
legs are under the body, supporting part of its 
weight and working alternately as in walking ; 
the thigh and hip, and, for that matter, the whole 
body, as well as the lower leg, is exercised ; and 
the operator has plenty of fresh air and sunlight. 



62 WHEELING. 

Thus it will be seen the two are incomparably 
different. 

Another contention, advanced by some medical 
men, is that riding the bicycle is apt to render 
child-bearing more painful and dangerous than 
heretofore. They reason that by increasing the 
strength and power of the perineum muscles, 
they will more effectually resist the birth of the 
head, and instead of the sphincter dilating it will 
rupture. 

The fallacy of this reasoning can be proved 
in a few words. Bicycle riding tends to make 
childbirth easier and safer in the following way. 
A muscle will perform its functions more nat- 
urally when it is healthy and sound. Bicycle 
riding tends to bring all the muscles, tissues and 
organs up nearer to the perfect health limit. 
The natural function of the perineum muscles is 
to support the pelvic contents, it is true, but they 
are also supposed to stretch easily when required 
to do so by the efforts of nature to expel the 
foetus. Then the uterine muscles and the abdom- 
inal muscles, being healthier and stronger, exert 
more propulsive power, which would more easily 
overcome the resistance of the perineum muscles. 

Of course the healthfulness of bicycling is mod- 
ified by the conditions under which it is prac- 




PHOTO BY BUTLER 



Upright Position (female)— Loop Frame Wheel — Long Skirt Costume — 

High Handle Bars 

— Page 6J. 



THE BYCICLE FOR WOMEN. 63 

ticed. The costume, the position of the rider, the 
length of the ride and the method of riding are 
all factors to be counted in. But taking for 
granted that the fair rider is anxious to, and is 
doing everything right, the question, ^^Is it 
healthful for a woman to ride ? " is simplified and 
can be answered with one word, ^^ Yes." 

There is no valid reason why a woman may not 
derive as much benefit from cycling as a man. 
True, she is built differently, but she breathes the 
same air, eats the same food, and she has a 
heart and muscles that need exercising to keep 
them healthy. The theory seems to be perfectly 
correct that what is good for a man's muscles is 
also good for a woman's. 

All that has been said in the previous chapters 
refers equally to women as to men. It should 
be understood, however, that a woman, being 
more finely organized than a man, cannot endure 
as much hard work, nor for so long a time. 
Therefore her rides should be shorter. She also 
suffers more nerve strain than a man ; therefore 
her riding should be slower. With these amend- 
ments the same rules of hygiene govern the 
female bicyclist as the male. 

*'But you don't mean that a woman should 
bend over like a man ? " Precisely, if you will sub- 



64 WHEELING. 

stitute the word ^ incline" for ^^bend." The in- 
clined position is the only rational one to assume 
on the bicycle. The definition of this position 
and its many advantages have been carefully 
considered in the chapter on Hygiene. If it is 
advantageous for a man to ride in this position, it 
is equally so for a woman. Even supposing she 
is conformed differently in certain parts, it simply 
necessitates a change in the form and adjustment 
of the saddle — not the position. 

In addition to the better control of the wheel 
and the greater facility for the exercise of the 
power, the inclined position has a correcting in- 
fluence on a female complaint which is commoner 
than it ought to be in otherwise healthy young 
women. Eeference is made to the backward dis- 
placement of the womb. The causes which pro- 
duce this condition are various, but one of the 
commonest is the habit of bending over a desk 
while writing or studying. Here the pelvis is 
straight while the body is bent at the small of the 
back and the shoulders brought forward. All the 
abdominal organs are thus crowded down on the 
anterior aspect of the uterus, pushing it back- 
ward and straining and stretching the round 
ligaments which are meant to hold it in place. 
Now what does the inclined position on the bicycle 



THE BICYCLE FOR WOMEN. 65 

do ? It tilts the pelvis forward too, so that its 
inclination is exactly the same as that of the 
body ; — they form a straight line. The organs 
are not crowded down but occupy their normal 
positions. The round ligaments are relaxed by 
the falling forward of the body of the uterus, and 
are enabled and stimulated to regain their tone 
and take in their slack, by the increased nutri- 
tion sent to them by the healthful exercise. 

But if the inclined position is assumed, it is 
necessary to have a saddle which is so formed 
that it will support the bony points of the seat 
(called the ischial tuberosities), and not cause any 
pressure on the soft parts. In order to effect 
this, the saddle must be wide enough in the 
posterior two-thirds to full contain the buttocks, 
and narrow enough anteriorly to avoid chafing 
the thighs. 

This brings up the important question, ^' Which 
of the saddles on the market is the best ? " Al- 
most every conceivable invention of a saddle is 
now manufactured, so that there is a wide choice 
and almost everybody can be 'satisfied. 

A woman's saddle should be wider than a man's, 
and a woman with a wide pelvis should have a 
wider saddle than a woman with a narrow pelvis. 
Stoutness does not necessarily imply the posses- 



66 WHEELING. 

sion of a wide pelvis. I have seen very slender 
women with very wide pelvis. When choosing 
a saddle the best way is to select one which you 
think will meet your requirements and then try 
it. If it causes pressure or soreness where it 
ought not to, change it, for it will be dangerous 
to try and break yourself into a faulty saddle as 
people break in new shoes. There is a concern in 
New York where they fit saddles to each individ- 
ual. Impressions of the seat are taken in plas- 
ter, and the saddle is constructed after the model 
so obtained, and a perfect fit guaranteed. 

A saddle for women should not contain a raised 
pommel ; rather a depressed one. Some saddles 
have no pommel at all, the rider sitting on them 
as on the edge of a chair. They are not com- 
fortable to riders who do not ride a great deal in 
their pedals. The vicious '* center ridge," or 
** ridge pole " saddle, formerly seen so frequently, 
is seldom seen nowadays. It was the chief fault 
of a cheap saddle. The sagging of the leather on 
either side produced a ridge in the center which 
was the cause of many injuries. The '^ham- 
mock " or " sagging " saddle was produced in the 
same way — the weight of the body causing the 
center to relax. 

The adjustment of the saddle is next in impor- 



THE BICYCLE FOR WOMEN. 67 

tance to its shape. You will have to find out 
your own proper adjustment by your experience. 
On general principles, for women, and in fact for 
all riders, the saddles should be straight — neither 
tilted up or down in front. If tilted, the poise is 
at once destroyed, the proper support gone and 
the adjustment of the parts altered, so that a 
good fitting saddle, wrongly adjusted, may be 
more injurious than the worst saddle made. 

When you first begin to ride you will like a 
soft, cushiony saddle, a regular feather-bed sort of 
saddle, for you will sit in it with your whole 
weight, especially if you affect the upright posi- 
tion. But after you have become a proficient 
rider, and abandoning the upright position assume 
the inclined, you will want as hard and light a 
saddle as you can find. The reason is you will 
have learned to ride more in your pedals, using 
your saddle only as a rest to be leaned against. 
Even in horseback riding, a good mount rides in 
his stirrups, using the saddle only as a rest. 

The costume which is proper for a woman to 
wear has been the subject of more literature, 
more discussion, more argument and more differ- 
ence of opinion than any other one phase of wheel- 
ing. Modesty has been pitted against service- 
ability, morality against attractiveness, and con- 



68 WHEELING. 

servatism against progression ; and a right royal 
combat was waged until Dame Fashion stepped 
into the arena and settled all disputes by pro- 
claiming " le habilimente propre" to be a short 
skirt, reaching half-way from the knee to the 
ankle, and leather leggins or boots. The skirt 
was made full and bloomers were worn beneath. 

This kind of skirt, however, had its drawbacks. 
At times it was awkward, got caught in the wheel 
and in the pedals, and was immodestly tossed by 
the wind. A few women abandoned it altogether 
and appeared in bloomers, but such a howl of de- 
rision was raised that the bloomers soon went 
out of sight. 

At this stage a fashionable New York modiste 
came to the fore with a costume which he de- 
signed and called after himself, the '' Luey 
costume." It consists of a divided skirt so ar- 
ranged that when the wearer stands it falls to- 
gether and looks exactly like a complete skirt, but 
when seated on the wheel, it divides in the back, 
to hang down gracefully from the saddle. So 
popular has this costume become that it is now 
worn by four-fifths of all the female bicylists in 
this vicinity. 

But whatever kind of a costume you select, be 
sure it does not confine the movements of your 




PHOTO BY BUTLER 



Correct Position— Luey Costume— Loop Frame Wheel— Droop 
Handle Bars 

—Page 68. 



THE BICYCLE FOR WOMEN. 69 

body, or constrict any portion of it, for you need 
all the freedom possible. Tight corsets while ex- 
ercising do damage in many ways. The stomach 
and spleen are pushed upward and backward, 
against the heart, interfering with its action. 
The liver is pressed upon and pushed upward, 
diminishing the space in which the lungs expand. 
The intestines are crowded down on the pelvic 
organs, which are liable to be displaced, and the 
pressure on the large vessels causes a stagnation 
of blood in the valveless veins of the sexual organs 
— a potent cause of many of the ailments pecul- 
iar to women. 

If the corsets are abandoned and the waist con- 
stricted by tight waist- bands of skirts, etc., it is 
worse than if the corsets were worn, for the con- 
striction then is a narrow string, while the corset 
is a diffuse pressure. Health waists are no better 
than corsets if worn tight. It is true they have 
no steels, and this is an advantage. They are the 
best to wear if something of this nature must be 
worn. They preserve the shape and support the 
back muscles, which are weak in women who 
have worn tight corsets for a long time. 

It would be better if women went without 
corsets, even if they put them on again after leav- 
ing the wheel. An immense advantage to health 



70 WHEELING. 

would accrue, but personal appearance would 
suffer, and this is a great desideratum in most 
feminine eyes. 

Considered from a hygienic point of view, the 
best and simplest costume yet devised for women 
is as follows : — 

1. Union garments of silk or thin wool. 

2. Equestrian tights from knee to waist, or 
bloomers same as for men. 

3. Stockings. 

4. High boots. 

5. Shirt waist or woolen waist. 

6. Short skirt. 

Y. Eton or Luey jacket. 

8. Alpine, Derby, straw, or Tam O'Shanter hat. 

The equestrian tights are made of heavy woolen 
and reach to below the knee. The stockings are 
held up by the band of the tights or bloomers. 
Garters should not be worn, as they constrict the 
surface veins and may cause varicose veins. The 
boots should fit well and lace snugly to just be- 
low the knee. The skirt should be short enough 
to clear the pedals. On most women of average 
height, this would bring it to a few inches below 
the knee — a point entirely modest and very be- 
coming. The jacket may be discarded on hot days. 
The choice of hat will depend on individual fancy 



THE BICYCLE FOR WOMEN. 71 

and taste. Derbys are not becoming to all faces. 
A trimmed hat looks as bad on a wheel as a silk 
hat would look on a man. 

Although this seems to be the regulation cos- 
tume for women, a great variety can be obtained 
merely by the choice of material. Individual 
taste and personal requirements will of course be 
consulted in this matter, but a tip may not be 
amiss. Brown is a color which is most service- 
able and looks best under all conditions of travel. 
A black suit will become covered with dust and 
look nasty ; a blue one will fade ; and so on 
through the list of the colors. If a woman wears 
a plaid or other loud color, or a combination of 
striking colors, she will attract attention and per- 
haps incite ridicule or occasion unkind remark. 

Cloth or leather leggings, worn over ordinary 
shoes, make the leg and ankle look clumsy and 
awkward. It is far more becoming to wear no 
covering at all over the stocking, and in warm 
weather it is vastly more comfortable. Low 
shoes with black or tan stockings are getting to be 
very commonly worn now. 

Sweaters are worn by many women, either with 
or without a coat over them. They are comfort- 
able on cool days, but are not very becoming. 
The combination of a sweater with bloomers and 



72 WHEELING. 

a Derby makes a girl look very mamish and per- 
haps 'Hough," especially if she rides a diamond 
frame wheel and bends over like a scorcher. 

The diamond frame wheel is much better than 
the loop frame to ride on if one's skirt is short 
enough. Its advantages are : It is lighter ; it is 
more compact and handier to manage ; and it is 
easier to maintain the correct position upon it. 
If the skirt is a divided one and reaches only to 
the knee, the diamond frame may be used with 
safety and propriety. To mount it, the skirt must 
first be lifted over the saddle and then the mount 
made from the rear over the saddle in the same 
manner as described in a previous chapter. 

Of the effect of wheeling on the female organ- 
ism, much might be said and little understood by 
the lay reader. Therefore I will confine myself, 
as far as possible, to common terms, and endeavor 
to explain clearly and concisely the nature, causes 
and consequences of the numerous female com- 
plaints, and to show how the bicycle aif ects them. 

The diseases peculiar to women which may be 
benefited by wheeling are : — 
Painful Menstruation. 
Backache. 
Constipation. 
Headache. 




PHOTO BY BUTLER 

Bloomer Costume — Scorcher's Position — Diamond Frame Wheel — 
Ram's Horn Handle Bars 

— Page 72. 



THE BICYCLE FOE WOMEN. 73 

Nervousness. 

Hysteria. 

Malaise, or ^^ Tired Feeling." 

Leucorrhoea, or *^ Whites." 
The manner in which the bicycle helps these 
ailments involves the same principle which gov- 
erns its effect on other diseases. The healthy out- 
door exercise and muscular exertion, stimulating 
the heart and circulation, carries better nourish- 
ment to the organs and tissues, giving them a 
healthier tone and an ability to perform their 
function more naturally. The increase in the 
general health exerts a marked influence on local 
disease — an effect which prolonged local treat- 
ment may fail to accomplish. 

Painful menstruation is a female disorder more 
common than it should be. Normally this func- 
tion should be painless. It was never intended 
that women should suffer during this period. 
The causes are various, and are mostly due to a 
faulty development or position of the uterus and 
chronic inflammation of that^organ. The bicycle 
will not help it if caused by a tumor or deformity, 
but if due to a chronic congestion or inflamma- 
tion, the wheeling does good by improving the 
tone of the pelvic organs. 
Backache is probably the commonest of all 



74 WHEEL.1NG. 

female complaints. It accompanies almost all of 
the disordered conditions peculiar to women. 
Some of the more frequent of its causes are : — 
Backward displacement of the womb, chronic in- 
flammation of the uterus or ovaries, tumors, and 
procidentia, or falling of the womb. If your 
backache is caused by chronic inflammation of 
the uterus and ovaries, it will be benefited by 
bicycling. But if there is present a fixed back- 
ward displacement it will be only aggravated by 
wheeling. If the displacement is movable, and 
the womb is placed forward by your physician, 
and treated locally, discreet bicycle exercise is im- 
mensely valuable and may exert a complete cure. 
The bicycle cannot help the backache caused by 
tumors or falling of the womb. 

Constipation is produced from the same causes 
as backache, together with the contributing 
causes of sedentary habits, inactivity and errors 
of diet. It is common to nine-tenths of all wo- 
men, whether they have anything else the mat- 
ter with them or not. It may be cured by wheel- 
ing if it be caused by sedentary habits, inactivity, 
errors of diet, or movable displacements that are 
treated : but it will be only slightly relieved if 
the additional conditions mentioned under back- 
ache are present. 



THE BICYCLE FOR WOMEN. 75 

Headache goes hand in hand with backache. 
It is sometimes the only symptom that a woman 
will complain of. A celebrated professor of thera- 
peutics has said there are fourteen kinds of head- 
ache, and therefore fourteen causes of it. If 
your headache is located in the top of your head, 
and is more severe at the time of your period, 
you may attribute it to your ovaries. If it oc- 
curs in the front part of the head, through the 
temple, look out for your stomach and cure 
your constipation. If in the back of the head, 
perhaps the entire contents of your pelvis are 
chronically congested. Wheeling exerts a mark- 
edly good influence on all kinds of headache. 
The general toning up of the organs, the exhilara- 
tion of the exercise, the change of the scene and 
the fresh air have a more potent influence than 
any drug. 

Nervousness, hot flashes, cold hands and feet, 
flushing, etc., are all manifestations of the 
nervous system due to a local disturbance prob- 
ably in the ovaries. ^ 

Hysteria is this nerve manifestation accentu- 
ated. The name itself is derived from the Greek 
word '* Hyster " meaning uterus, and applied by 
the ancients to that profound disturbance of the 
nervous equilibrium emanating from the uterus. 



76 WHEELING. 

Wheeling helps these nervous disorders by re- 
lieving the nerve tension in much the same man- 
ner as a locomotive ''blows off " its accumulated 
steam, when it is at a standstill. If the steam 
was retained an explosion would result. Hysteria 
is an explosion of the nervous system and bicy- 
cling is a newly invented safety-valve. 

Malaise, or '' that tired feeling," or laziness, 
whichever you wish to call it, is frequently caused 
by an unhealthy cendition of the sexual organs, 
coupled with constipation and inactivity of the 
liver. It may also be caused by overwork, and 
then the remedy is rest. Otherwise a little work 
often cures that tired feeling. Some wit has 
tersely said, ''If you feel tired, work it off." 
The kind of tired feeling which wheeling helps 
is that caused by indolence, — the stagnation of 
the system's machinery. A ride in the open 
country revivifies the whole system. 

Leucorrhoea, or "whites," is not necessarily an 
indication of weakness, as many suppose. When 
you have a cold in your head, the nose secretes 
abundant mucus, as is commonly known, and the 
cause is understood. The neck of the womb se- 
cretes a mucus, because there is a chronic con- 
gestion present, and this secretion is Nature's 
method of relief to it. Another cause may be 



THE BICYCLE FOR WOMEN. 77 

lacerations or tumors. When these are present, 
bicycling will do more harm than good. Other- 
wise wheeling is very beneficial to leucorrhoea. 
The force at work here is the increased blood sup- 
ply and the improved nutrition of all the pelvic 
organs. 

The bicycle is not a panacea for all the ills of 
womankind. It has its limitations, and there are 
certain conditions in which it will do absolute 
harm. 

Pelvic tumors of all kinds are a contra-indica- 
tion to the use of the bicycle. From its use 
these tumors may be stimulated to grow larger 
by the increase in the blood supply to the 
pelvis. 

Acute inflammation should, of course, prohibit 
the wheel, as should the condition of pregnancy. 
Wheeling will also be much safer dispensed with 
during the period of menstruation. 

Lacerations of the pelvic floor should be repaired 
before wheeling is attempted. 

Adherent retroversion, or fixed backward dis- 
placement of the womb, should be treated first, 
the adhesions broken down and the uterus re- 
placed before wheeling will be of service as a cura- 
tive agent. 

Wheeling is prejudicial to procidentia, or fall- 



i Q WHEELING. 

ing of the womb, and should not be practiced if 
this condition is present. 

The bicycle has been known to have a favorable 
effect on the nervous disturbances of the meno- 
pause, or change of life. It may seem to some 
that forty-five years of age is rather late in life 
to begin bicycle riding, but it is not an uncom- 
mon sight to see gray-haired men and women 
astride a wheel on the boulevards or pathways, 
enjoying it as much as the youngest. 

When a woman undertakes to ride a wheel, it 
will pay her to remember the following tips : 

Be careful to increase the length of the ride grad- 
ually. 

Always dismount and walk up steep hills. 

Never go so fast that breathing becomes labored. 

Never sit down on damp or cool ground when 
heated. 

Learn to use the pedals instead of the brake. 

Best frequently during long rides and after 
riding. 

If the heart palpitates stop and rest. 

The future of bicycling for women is even more 
promising than its present is fulfilling. What 
is done by the present generation will have its 
effect on future generations. With healthier 
women will come healthier children. And child- 



THE BICYCLE FOR WOMEN. 79 

bearing itself will be easier. As the health of 
woman increases, she will acquire stronger mus- 
cles and steadier nerves. Her menstrual periods 
will tend to become painless. And last, but not 
least, she will wear a more hygienic dress — an 
epoch toward which the female world has been 
struggling for a century. 



80 WHEELING. 



IV.— MOKALITY. 

I have run across so much that has been said 
and written derogatory to the bicycle as a moral 
agent, and defamatory to the fair name of its 
female devotees, and, meeting with none who has 
had the temerity to defend them, I am impelled 
to take up this theme with much hesitation, for 
fear I may cause offence to some, but with the 
hope that I may correct the wrong impressions of 
many, if I may not convince all, and with the 
firm conviction that my arguments are tenable 
and are worth setting forth, even if they can be 
disproved. 

The moral side of bicycling has almost as much 
to do with the physician as the physical side, for 
morality is closely related to health. But aside 
from this, a physician, by reason of his learning 
and favorable opportunities for observation, has 
a vantage ground from which he is a powerful 
factor in molding public opinion. 

The female riders are mostly concerned in the 
morality of bicycling. By old tradition and long 
custom, a woman is debarred from the moral 



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MORALITY. 81 

freedom that is accorded to man. Whether she 
will ever demolish this difference is for the future 
to tell. At the present time, a woman has to 
consider very carefully the moral effect of every- 
thing she does. 

Since the bicycle became popular as an exercise 
for women, hosts of social reformers and dema- 
gogues have arisen to denounce it as an immoral in- 
stitution. Newspapers and magazines have been 
flooded with their arguments and assertions, and 
anti-bicycle crusades have been launched, until it 
was thought that surely such an evil would take 
wings and fly away ; but, lo and behold, what is 
the result ? — More women ride bicycles now than 
ever before. 

The most grievous and lamentable charge that 
the anti-bicyclists make against the fair name of 
the female riders is unfortunately not advisable 
to take up for discussion in a book of this kind. 
It has been discussed and argued and refuted in 
the medical journals throughout the country, but 
in spite of the fact that it has been proven to be 
impossible, some people still think it a logical 
sequence to riding the wheel. 

The subject of short skirts has received more 
attention and open discussion than any other of the 
moral aspects of cycling. The reformers have 



82 WHEELING. 

harped upon this theme until it is threadbare. 
The public has been impressed by their argu- 
ments, but not influenced much, for shorter skirts 
are now worn more than ever before. 

When bicycling was first essayed by women, 
everybody realized the danger that lurked in the 
ordinary long skirt. All manner of devices was 
invented to prevent the skirt from catching in the 
wheel and pedals, but without success. Every 
woman who rode the bicycle was in constant 
danger of a serious fall. Then a few courageous 
women abandoned the long skirt and donned a 
shorter one, and were stared at and ridiculed by 
the public. The public, however, soon realized 
the good sense of the innovation, and then the 
great crowd of female riders followed the suit 
led by the brave pioneers, and short skirts be- 
came a recognized essential to bicycling. The 
pendulum of reform swung even further, as it 
always will when once started. Some women 
discarded skirts altogether, appearing in bloomers. 
Others donned even tight knickerbockers, sweat- 
ers, derbys, and rode diamond frame wheels, so 
great was their zeal to shake off the enthralments 
of femininity. This, however, was overdoing 
the thing, and the public revolted. It was not 
necessary to discard the skirt entirely, and there- 




•^.zzi'iK.isa.- 



PHOTO BY BUTLER 



Female Scorcher— Male Attire— Diamond Frame Wheel— Ram's 
Horn Handle Bars 

— Pas^e 82. 



MORALITY. 83 

fore it was not universally done. A short skirt 
was considered to be safe, appropriate and modest, 
and it is now the recognized costume for female 
cyclists. 

It is amusing to observe the transitional stages 
of a woman's conception of modesty, as she takes 
up wheeling and progresses in it. At first a 
skirt six inches off the ground is plenty short 
enough. After wheeling a few weeks an addition- 
al few inches are amputated, for she has found 
that the skirt catches in the wheel and on the 
pedals, and perhaps she has had a few falls there- 
from. When she has been wheeling a few months 
the skirt has shrunk to her knees, not from the ac- 
tion of the elements, but by means of her scissors. 
She will tell you, if interrogated, that her ideas 
of modesty have changed. She no longer con- 
siders it modest to endanger her life and health 
for the sake of keeping a few inches of her leg 
under cover. 

All of which brings forcibly to mind the fact 
that dress is merely an arbitrary custom, any way. 
It is because we are brought up to regard women 
as an exposition of dry goods, that we are so 
wrought up when we become visibly aware that 
a real live body exists beneath the drapery. There 
are certain countries v/here clothing is not worn 



84 WHEELING. 

at all, and yet the honor and morality of the popu- 
lace, considering their barbaric state, is better 
than ours. The Greek historians tell us that, 
during the reign of Lycurgus, the Spartan law- 
giver, in G-reece, the '^younger women were en- 
couraged to wear exceeding scanty costume, and 
the virgins were accustomed to dance and sing 
unclothed in the presence of the young men, in 
the national festivals." This historian further 
states that ^'by wearing the scanty garment, or 
none at all, the Spartan girls had freedom in the 
exercises of running, wrestling and throwing 
quoits or darts, and their bodies became strong and 
vigorous." 

Plutarch, the famous moralizer, comments on 
this custom as follows: *^ As for the virgins appear- 
ing naked, there was nothing disgraceful in it, 
because everything was conducted with modesty 
and without one indecent word or action ; nay, it 
caused a simplicity of manners and an emulation 
for the best habit of body ; their ideas, too, were 
naturally enlarged, while they were not excluded 
from their share of bravery and honor." 

But the United States is neither a cannibal 
island nor the land of Lacedsemonia. We are gov- 
erned by our inherited ideas on the subject of 
modesty. If we are to be educated to a higher 



MOKALITY. 85 

plane of thougnt it must be done gradually. The 
abbreviated bicycle skirt is the first step in that 
direction. 

When the reformers denounce the bicycle short 
skirt, they overlook two other grosser evils in the 
realm of modern dress. The bicycle costume does 
not expose the person so much as either the ball 
dress or bathing costume. In the ball dress the 
neck and bosom, a portion of the back and the 
arms are bare. In the bicycle no part of the body 
is bare but the face. The bathing costume is a 
more complete expose of nature than the ball 
dress. Beside the parts that are bare, the entire 
shape is revealed by the clinging suit, when it 
is wet, and the legs are exposed far more than is 
the case in the bicycle costume. Yet the public 
has viewed with equanimity these two established 
customs of dress, while decrying the growing 
popularity of the short bicycle skirt. Not that any 
of them, the ball dress or the bathing suit or the 
bicycle costume, should be considered immodest : — 
they are simply referred to here for the purpose 
of comparison. The public has become used to 
two of them, and they wiirget used to the third. 
It is simply a case of getting used to it. 

The subject of Sunday riding has enjoyed peri- 
odical discussion every since the popularization of 



86 WHEELING. 

he bicycle. Arguments for and against it have 
been hurled back and forth by prominent minds, 
until now the general opinion, even of clergymen, 
seems to be that cycling on Sunday is a far less 
evil than many of the pleasurable pursuits here- 
tofore regarded as not violating the Sabbath. 
Carriage riding, traveling in cars, cabs or rail- 
roads, or patronizing pleasure resorts, necessitates 
work on the part of other people, the same and 
more than they do on week-days. Bicycling re- 
quires the labor of none save the rider him- 
self — and he does not regard it as labor, but 
pleasure. 

Ministers have complained that Sunday bicycle 
riding takes people away from the church services. 
Supposing it does, is not the sermon in the brook, 
the song in the throats of birds, the evidence of 
God's handiwork in the trees, and grass, and 
shrubbery, His smile in the warm sunshine, and 
His caress in the cooling breeze, a good substi- 
tute for a dry discourse on theology in a dark, 
close church ? 

There are a great many people who never have 
opportunity for riding during the day, except on 
Sunday. Night riding is not as pleasurable nor 
as healthy as riding in daylight. These people are 
refreshed and stimulated for the ensuing week's 



MORALITY. 87 

work by their ride into the open country on Sun- 
day. 

The claim that the Sunday bicycling crowds 
are noisy, boisterous, profane, etc, has some 
foundation in fact. Rome was not made in a day, 
and a gentleman or lady cannot be made in a 
season. Sunday is the one day in the week when 
the masses have opportunity to ride. It is no 
wonder that their joyousness at their unwonted 
freedom and pleasure should be noisy and boister- 
ous. Liberate a bird from a cage, and it too will 
sing in gladness. Untie a dog and he will vent 
his pent-up spirits by gamboling about you. The 
human animal gets loose once a week and disports 
himself awheel. Time, however, will effect a 
change. When the novelty of the Sunday riding 
wears off, quiet gentlemanly conduct will be as- 
sumed by all, if it is only for the sake of appear- 
ing well-bred. 

Drinking on Sunday is not much indulged, 
probably because prevented by law. Even if it 
were not, saloons would not be patronized much 
by wheelmen, because most of them realize that 
liquor and the bicycle arS incompatible. It re- 
quires a clear head to ride the bicycle. However 
as long as there is evil in the world, it will flour- 
ish in some places. Some men, and, sad to relate 



88 WHEELING. 

some women, will drink, whether they ride the 
wheel or not. But the vast majority of bicyclists 
drink to relieve thirst — drink soft drinks such as 
lemonade, soda, etc. It is explained elsewhere 
how hurtful this practice is. 

Once in a while, one reads in the papers of a 
young girl going out on her wheel, meeting a 
chance acquaintance and being led astray. An 
article in a recent medical journal tells of a 
case in the writer's personal experience, where 
a young woman in strange, picked-up company, 
so far forgot herself as to drink a glass of wine, 
which was drugged, and was then ' ^ marched off 
for immoral purposes, amid the delight of her 
captors." 

Man}^ people jump at the conclusion that the 
bicycle is responsible for such cases. The article 
alluded to take this narrow view of it. The bi- 
cycle is no more responsible for it than a horse and 
carriage, or a flying-machine would be, for that 
matter. It is true the bicycle gives to women 
more freedom than they have heretofore enjoyed, 
and it is not surprising that a few silly, weak- 
minded women lose control of themselves when 
they have liberty thus thrust upon them. Girls 
of this kind have probably never been taught how 
to take care of themselves, but have been closely 



MORALITY. 89 

guarded at home as though they were inmates of 
at harem. 

It is the proud boast of America, that her 
women can take care of themselves wherever they 
are, under all circumstances. It is not necessary 
to lock her in a convent to protect her virtue. 
Purity lies in character — not in lack of oppor- 
tunity. This enviable trait of character in the 
American woman has been fostered by the free- 
dom which she has always enjoyed. The bicycle 
is an extenuation of this freedom, and until they 
get used to it, the new temptations that come 
with it will find victims. 

The practice of picking up aquaintances has not 
been initiated by the bicycle. It has been com- 
mon enough on the streets long before the bicycle 
was known. Sensible girls know very well that 
nothing good comes from meeting a man in this 
manner, and sensible girls avoid flirting while 
wheeling as well as while walking. 

The charge has been made that the bicycle en- 
genders a freedom of manners in women, quite 
in contrast to all accepted ideas of retiring mod- 
esty. At summer resorts she is wont to sit 
around on the hotel porticoes in her bicycle cos- 
tume, and chew gum and talk slang, etc. While 
this may be considered by some immodest and 



90 WHEELING. 

unbecoming, it is, nevertheless, simply another 
example of the exuberance and good -nature of 
health. Bicycle women have ceased to be the 
pale, frail, painted butterflies they used to be, 
avoiding the sunshine as a pestilence, on account 
of the damage it would cause their complexions. 
What if the bicycle girl does sit around in com- 
fortable clothing instead of in a long silk skirt 
and tight corsets. What if she does chew gum 
and talk slang as long as she reaps enjoyment 
from it. There is enough misery in the world. 

To sum up the morality of wheeling it may be 
tersely said that '^ a lady is a lady wherever she 
is." To decry wheeling because a few make bad 
use of it, is to hold the dime of vice so close to 
the eye that the dollar of virtue cannot be seen 
beyond. 



APPENDIX. 91 



v.— APPENDIX. 

1. How TO Select a Bicycle. 

With so many bicycle manufacturers in the 
field, each claiming his production to be superior 
to all the others, it becomes a difficult matter for 
even the experienced wheelman to decide which 
make is the most reliable, the most serviceable, 
the most perfectly constructed, and the most up 
to date. The attractiveness of a low price has in- 
duced many people to buy a shoddy machine, 
constructed with the single view ^' to sell " and 
sooner or later the buyer awakens to the fact that 
he is sold. A rotten tire, a weak frame, a loose 
rattling adjustment, a faulty saddle, are not only 
uncomfortable — they are unsafe. It is very an- 
noying to start out on an excursion with a party, 
and after you have gone say ten miles, you are 
left behind, on account of the collapse of your 
rotten tire ; or to be the (5bject of criticism or ridi- 
cule while riding along the boulevard on account 
of your rattling or squeaking adjustment ; or to 
suffer, perhaps serious injury from a mishapen 



92 WHEELING. 

saddle. It pays in the end to buy a good relia- 
ble wheel, even if you have to pay more for it. 
The cost of keeping a cheap wheel in repair will 
eventually pay for the difference in price of a 
good one. 

Whatever make you select, there are several 
things to consider in the choice of the frame, 
gearing, etc. Your height, age, weight, sex, 
strength, and the character of the country over 
which you intend to ride, whether hilly or level, 
smooth roads or cow-paths, sand or macadam. 
It is a ridiculous sight to see a tall man perched 
on a small-framed wheel, with his saddle and 
handle bars hoisted way up in order to give his 
long legs room to play. If you are tall have your 
frame made large and vice versa. 

The gearing is the hardest part of a bicycle to 
understand, and consequently many mistakes are 
made in the selection of the gearing. Properly 
speaking, gearing means the mechanism by 
which the bicycle is made to move. It consists 
of two cog wheels, of different sizes, connected 
by an endless chain. The proportionate sizes of 
the wheels to each other gives the difference in 
gearing. Numbers are employed to designate to 
what height the wheel is geared. For instance, 
if a wheel is geared to YO it means that, with one 



APPENDIX. 93 

revolution of the pedals, it will cover as much 
ground, as an ordinary wheel 70 inches in dia- 
meter. Wheels are now geared all the way 
from 50 to 80. To find the gearing of a bicycle, 
multiply the diameter of the rear wheel by 
the number of teeth in the forward sprocket 
and divide the result by the number of teeth in 
the rear sprocket. Thus, for example, if the 
diameter of the rear wheel is 28 in. and the front 
sprocket has 20 teeth and the rear sprocket T 
teeth, the gear will be 80, i. e. 28 X 20 -^ 7=80. 

The gearing makes a good deal of diJfference in 
the ease with which a bicycle is propelled. A 
high gearing requires much more strength than 
a low one. Especially is this fact made manifest 
in hill climbing. Yet a high gearing is attractive 
to many because the pedals do not make as many 
revolutions in covering a given distance as in a 
low-geared machine. Ordinary riders, however, 
should avoid high gearing. The customary gear 
for men is from 64 to 70 and for women from 
59 to 68. 

The length of the pedal crank should correspond 
with the length of the -rider's leg. In fact, the 
three parts of frame, gear and crank should vary 
with each other, fitting the build of the rider. A 
tall, long-legged rider should have a large frame 



94 WHEELING. 

wheel with a high gear (say 10) and a pedal crank 
of 6| or 7 inches. A short man should of course 
have the opposite, a crank of 6 or Q^ inches and a 
gear of say 64. The cranks in ladies' wheels are 
usually 6 inches and the gear about 60, but the 
purchaser should insist on the proper adjustment 
of the wheel to his or her person. 

The saddle is next in importance to the size of 
the adjustments. A bad saddle may not only be 
uncomfortable but injurious. In the chapter for 
women the proper female saddle is fully de- 
scribed. For men the saddle should fit so that 
it does not press on the soft parts. It should be 
so well made that it will not sag or warp from 
the weight, and so cause vicious ridges. In its 
adjustment it should not be tilted so that the 
seat slides forward on the narrow pommel. As 
to the kind of saddle to get, whether softly padded 
or hard, experience alone will guide you. If you 
get a soft one at first you will change it for a 
hard one after you have become proficient in 
riding, because you will have learned to ride more 
in your pedals than on your saddle. 

A great variety of choice may be had in the shape 
of handle bars. They are bent in every form from 
the curved-up U to the ram's horn. The most ser- 
viceable kind of handle bar, if you are going to 



APPENDIX. 95 

adopt the inclined position, is one curved down- 
ward and backward. This shape permits of a 
change in position of the hands while riding, by 
removing them from the cork handles to the 
center head. The handle bar should not be too 
wide — the hands, when on the corks, being just 
outside of the knees. Wooden handle-bars are 
coming into vogue now. Their superiority has 
not been proven as yet. They are more springy 
than the steel ones, and they are said to lessen 
jarring and consequent numbness of the hands 
and arms. The adjustment of the handle bar 
should be such that the cork handles are one-half 
inch below the level of the saddle. 

It is important to have a good tire on your 
wheel. An otherwise perfect wheel may give 
you lots of trouble from a rotten tire. The best 
kind of tire is a single tube. It is more resilient 
and easier to repair if punctured, than a double 
tube or any of the patented tires. A large diameter 
tire is better than a narrow one. It has been 
proven to be less liable to puncture and is nicer 
to ride on. 

Toe-clips should be on e^ery bicycle and riders 
should get used to them. Instead of being dan- 
gerous, as many suppose, they are of decided 
assistance both in ascending and descending hills. 



96 WHEELING. 

The pedals cannot be lost, as when no clips are 
worn. Of course, one should learn to get out of 
them quickly when compelled to dismount sud- 
denly. This is effected by a little backward jerk 
' of the foot before raising it from the pedal. Few 
experienced wheelmen ride without the toe-clips 
now-a-days. 

Brakes are an abomination, and should never 
be used. If a wheel is fitted with a brake the 
rider becomes accustomed to it and relies upon it 
when he ought to use his pedals or perhaps dis- 
mount. It is like swimming with a life preserver 
on: you will never know how to swim until you 
take it off. Then a brake wears out tires quicker 
than everything else. It also adds to the weight 
of the wheel. 

A bell, lamp and tool bag are three important 
requisites. The law requires you to have the first 
two, and the uncertain health of the bicycle should 
induce you to take along the third. Have your 
bell adjusted within reach of your thumb when 
your hand is on the corks, and not on the center 
head. Have your lamp when not lighted covered 
with a waterproof bag. Get a good lamp, one 
that throws a good light on the road and stays lit 
when it is lighted. A popular position for the 
lamp is on the front fork, close to the hub of the 



APPENDIX. 97 

wheel. The tool bag should contain a wrench, 
a pump and connection, an oil can and a repair 
outfit. 

A tandem should meet all the requirements of a 
single wheel. The gearing is especially impor- 
tant because of the possible difference in power of 
the two riders. A mixed tandem (for man and 
woman) should have a gear of about 68. A male 
tandem may be geared as high as 76, but 72 is 
better for all ordinary riding and for riders unac- 
customed to each other. 

2. Care and Management of a Machine. 

The proper care and management of a bicycle 
is next in importance to the selection of it. Even 
good wheels get out of order occasionally, and the 
owner of one will save some expense and trouble 
by knowing how to take a wheel apart and fix it. 
In order to do this, a knowledge of the parts and 
their adjustment is necessary. A close study 
of a bicycle will impart more knowledge on this 
subject than pages of written text. To learn how 
to take a bicycle apart and. clean it, however, re- 
quires some instruction. 

The first thing to learn is the use of the monkey 

wrench. This tool is always in requisition when 
7 



98 WHEELING. 

tinkering on a bicycle. It should be carefully 
fitted, so that each nut is held firmly before power 
is used to loosen or fasten it. If this is not done, 
the square nuts will become rounded and thereby 
useless. When taking a wheel apart, begin 
systematically laying the nuts and bolts down 
just as they are taken off, to avoid mixing them. 
Another precaution is to take off only one part at 
a time, clean it and readjust it before touching 
another part. If these rules are not observed, 
much difficulty in fitting the different parts to 
their proper places may result. 

By far the most delicate and important parts of 
a wheel's mechanism are its bearings. For this 
reason great care should be exercised in keeping 
them in good order. In spite of the many recent 
improvements calculated to exclude all dust from 
the bearings, dust will find its way in, and there- 
fore cleaning becomes necessary. 

Of course the best way to clean the bearings is 
to take the wheel apart, wash them and replace 
them. But everybody cannot take a wheel apart 
and get it together again correctly, so that a sim- 
pler method is necessary. Unless the bearings 
are very dirty, the following procedure will render 
them comparatively clean. 

Lay the wheel down on two sticks which will 



APPENDIX. 99 

support it, so that the wheels can be revolved, 
with the sprocket wheel up. Place a shallow pan 
under the part you are going to clean. By means 
of a long nozzle oil-can pour kerosene oil into 
the crank and oil hole of the bearings and revolve 
the pedal. Keep this up until the oil drips off 
comparatively clear. Then wipe off all the visi- 
ble kerosene, and let the wheel stand for some 
time. Just before using it, be sure and oil all the 
bearings with a good lubricating oil. 

When the bearings are so dirty that it is ad- 
visable to dismember the bicycle, be careful to 
systematically arrange all the removed balls, nuts, 
bars and bolts, so that they may be correctly re- 
turned to their places. Each part should be thor- 
oughly washed in kerosene, dried and polished. 
In reassembling the parts, if one ball is lost, or the 
nuts screwed too tight, or left too loose, the per- 
fect mechanism of the wheel is destroyed, and it 
will run hard, make queer noises and, worst of all, 
wear down the balls, cones or barrels, so that 
they become flat or uneven and making repairs 
impossible. 

The frequency of cleaning the bearings depends 
on the make of the wheel, and upon the use of it 
— whether it is ridden much or little and over 
what kind of roads, whether dusty or not. Some 



100 WHEELING. 

makes of bicycles have their hearings more per- 
fectly fitted than others. Manifestly this kind of 
wheel will not need as frequent cleaning as one 
having loose joints. Then if a wheel is ridden 
every day over dusty roads it will become dirty 
sooner than one ridden once a week over a clean 
asphalt street. A good guide to the needed clean- 
ing of the bearings is when the wheel begins to 
run a little hard, the chain being all right and 
the adjustment not too tight. In fact, the way 
to tell whether a wheel is in perfect running order 
is to suspend it and revolve the wheels. If they 
revolve easily for a few minutes, gradually get- 
ting slower and slower, until finally they swing 
like a pendulum with the pump connection down, 
the wheel is all right. 

The bearings in the crank box need the most 
attention ; next to these the hubs and then the 
pedals. Many bicyclists never touch the pedal 
bearings at all. It is better not to take them 
apart ; flushing with kerosene and then liberal 
oiling ought to be sufficient. 

As to oiling, the common mistake is to oil too 
frequently and profusely. The bearings work 
better with just sufficient oil to lubricate them 
than when deluged with it. If too much oil is 
injected, it will run out and smear the parts and 



APPENDIX. 101 

attract all the dust in the neighborhood. Oiling 
once a week is a good rule for ^ ' ordinary " riding. 

The chain is the *^ bete noir " of the bicycle ad- 
justment to many people. It seems to be constant- 
ly out of order. This state of affairs is largely 
produced by the ignorance or neglect of the wheel- 
man in the care of the chain. Many riders do 
not take the trouble to clean their chain, but sim- 
ply smear it wth graphite, and expect it to work 
all right. As a matter of fact, the chain needs 
more cleaning than any other part of the wheel. 
Occasionally it should be entirely disjointed and 
soaked in kerosene. Generally, however, thor- 
oughly wiping it with a soft cloth, then treating 
it with kerosene while revolving the wheel, is 
sufficient. After it is clean, properly oiling it 
should take time and care. Each pin should 
receive a drop of oil, no more. Then each block, 
where it meets the tooth of the sprocket, should 
receive a light smudge of graphite. The rest 
of the chain should be dry. After thus apply- 
ing the oil and graphite carefully, revolve the 
wheels so that they may become well worked 
in. A chain treated this way looks clean, works 
well and needs cleaning less often than would 
otherwise be the case. 

The frame of a bicycle should have the dust 



102 WHEELING. 

wiped off it after every ride. In dry weather 
this is all the attention it needs. But if mud has 
collected and dried on it do not attempt to brush 
off the mud until you have soaked it with a wet 
sponge. You will thus avoid scratching the 
enamel and making your wheel look shabby. 

The rims should be treated, after a ride, in the 
same manner as the frame, — cleansed of dust and 
mud. The spokes should be likewise dusted and 
rubbed with a soft cloth which has a little vase- 
line on it. It would be well to have the spokes 
renickeled once a year, to guard against rust. 
The rims should be varnished as often if not 
oftener. 

The tires are a very important part of a bicycle. 
Even if you buy a cheap wheel you should have 
the very best tires on it. Then you should see 
that the tires are firmly fastened to the rims. 
If they are not, the tire will wear out quicker, and 
besides, it may slip off and give you a bad fail. 
To keep the tires in good condition it would be 
well to sponge them after every long ride. Water 
keeps them from hardening and cracking, and 
also washes off the dirt thoroughly. This is all 
the attention your tire will need until you get a 
puncture. This may not happen once in a season, 
but it is always well to be prepared for it, when 



APPENDIX. 103 

it does occur, so you should always take a repair 
kit along with you. The best repair kit on the 
market is the one containing a lot of little rubber 
plugs like blunt tacks. To find the puncture is 
sometimes a difficult matter. The best way is to 
put a section of the tire under water and if bub- 
bles arise the puncture is in that section. Another 
way is to smear a film of soap over the suspected 
point, and soap bubbles will proclaim the hole. 

After mending a tire give it time to dry be- 
fore using it. Then never leave it exposed to the 
sun, as the cement is liable to melt. 

Tires, when in use, should be pumped up hard. 
When not in use, part of the air should be let 
out. Contrary to the general opinion, it has 
been proved that a fully inflated tire will not 
puncture as easily as a soft tire. 

Your lamp, when not in use, should be covered 
with a bag made for the purpose out of water- 
proof cloth. If you ride only in daylight, of 
course you may dispense with carrying your 
lamp, but it is well to take it along if you start 
out in the afternoon, for you may be delayed 
some place, and it is against the law to ride at 
night without a light. Kerosene is now used in 
nearly all the best lamps. It gives a better light 
than other oils, without burning so much oil 



104 WHEELING. 

and with less smoke. If your lamp smokes with- 
out apparent cause, soak the wick in vinegar, 
dry it and the smoking will cease. Vinegar will 
also clean the smut which collects on the outside 
of every lamp. Some bicyclists drop a piece of 
oamphor into the oil in their lamps, believing it 
makes the flame whiter. This is a bad practice. 
Camphor, burned, produces the blackest soot and 
it will smoke your lamp all up. To keep a clear 
flame, trim the wick frequently. 

Always carry your tool bag with its full com- 
plement of implements. These should be a 
wrench, oil-can, screw-driver, pump with connec- 
tion, and repair kit. 

There remains but one thing more to say in 
regard to caring for a wheel, and that is con- 
cerning its storage for the winter. The first 
thing is to clean it thoroughly, and the second is 
to protect it in some manner from moisture, dust 
and air. To clean it thoroughly it is necessary to 
take it completely apart and go over each part 
carefully. Then put it together and inflate the 
tires half full of air. A simple plan to protect it 
is to make a huge bag out of heavy wrapping 
paper, sealing all the edges with glue, and put 
the wheel within it. Seal the opening, and you 
have a covering that is moisture and dust proof. 



APPENDIX. 
RELATIVE VALUE OF FOOD STUFFS. 



106 



ARTICLES. 



FRUITS. 

Apples 

Cherries . . . 

Currants 

Dates 

Figs 

Pears 

Prunes 

Peaches 

FISH. 

Codfish .... 

Clams 

Eels 

Herring . . . 

Halibut 

Lobsters 

Oysters 

Salmon . . . . , 

Smelts 

Trout 

GRAINS. 

Barley , 

Buckwheat . 

Corn 

Oats 

Rye 

Wheat 

MEATS. 

Beef 

Bacon 

Chicken 

Ham 

Kidney . . . 

Liver 

Lard 

Lamb 

Mutton 

Pork 

Pigeon 



As Mate- 
rials for 
Muscle 
Makinsr. 



Per Cent. 

0.9 
6 
0.9 
0.0 
5.0 
0.1 
3.9 
1.0 



16.5 
12.0 
17.0 
18.0 
18.0 
14.0 
12.6 
20.0 
17.0 
16.9 



12.8 
8.6 

12.3 

17.0 
6.5 

14.6 



19.0 
8.4 
21.6 
35.0 
21.2 
26.3 
0.0 
19.6 
21.0 
17.5 
23.0 



As Heat 
Givers. 



Per Cent. 

10.1 
21.0 

6.8 
73.7 
57.9 

9.6 
78.6 

5.4 



1.0 
0.5 
0.5 
0.5 
0.5 
0.5 
0.5 
0.5 
0.5 
0.8 



52.1 
53.0 
67.5 
50.8 
75.2 
66.4 



14.0 
62.5 

1.9 
32.0^ 

0.9' 

3.9 

100.0 

14.3 

14.0 

16.0 

1.9 



As Food 
for Brain. 



Water. 



Per Cent. 

0.3 
1.0 
0.3 
0.0 
3.4 
0.0 
4.5 
0.2 



2.5 

3.0 
4.0 
5.0 
4.0 
6.0 
0.2 
7.0 
6.0 
4.3 



4.2 
1.8 
1.1 
3.0 
0.5 
1.6 



2.0 
0.5 
2.8 
4.4 
1.4 
1.2 
0.0 
2.2 
2.0 
2.3 
2.7 



Per Cent 

83.5 
76.3 
81.3 
24.0 
18.7 
86.4 
13.0 
85.6 



Time Re- 
quired to- 
Digest. 



H 



M. 

2.30 
2.00 
3.00 
3.15 
3.30 
1.30 
2.50 
2.30 



80.0 


2.00 


85.0 


2.45 


75.0 


3.50 


75.0 


3.50 


74.0 


2.45 


79.0 


4.00 


87.2 


2.30 


74.0 


3.30 


75.0 


3.15 


78.0 


2.45 


14.0 


2.00 


14.2 


2.15 


14.0 


3.15 


13.6 


3.00 


13.5 


2.00 


14.0 


1.30 


65.0 


3.30 


28.6 


4.00 


23.7 


3.45 


28.6 


4.00 


76.5 


3.50 


68.6 


3.50 


0.0 


3.45 


63.9 


3.30 


63.0 


3.40 


64.3 


4.00 


72.4 


3.45 



106 



WHEELDSTG. 



ARTICLES. 


As Mate- 
rials for 
Muscle 
Making. 


As Heat 
Givers. 


As Food 
for Brain. 


Water. 


Time Re- 
quired to 
Digest. 


MEATS. 


Percent. 


Per Cent. 


Per Cent. 


Per Cent. 


H. M. 


Suet 


0.0 
17.7 
20.4 


100.0 
14.3 

8.0 


0.0 
2.3 

2.8 


0.0 
65.7 

68.8 


3.45 


Veal 


4.00 


Venison 


3.45 


VEGETABLES. 




Artichokes 


1.9 


19.0 


1.8 


76.6 


3.00 


Asparagus 

Beans 


0.6 
24.0 
1.1 
1.2 
3.6 


5.4 

40.0 

12.2 

6.2 

4.6 


0.4 
3.5 
1.0 
0.8 
1.0 


93.6 
14.8 
82.5 
91.3 
90.0 


2.15 
4.00 


Carrots 


3.00 


Cabbage 

Cauliflower 


4.00 
2.15 


Cucumber 


0.1 


t.7 


0.5 


97.1 


4.00 


Horse Radish 


0.1 


4.8 


1.0 


78.2 


3.45 


Lentils 


26.0 


39.0 


1.5 


14.0 


3.15 


Onions 


0.5 


5.2 


0.5 


93.8 


2.15 


Parsnips 

Potatoes 


2.1 
1.4 


14.5 
15.8 


1.0 
0.9 


79.4 

74.8 


2.00 
2.15 


Potatoes (sweet) 


1.5 


21.8 


2.9 


67.5 


2.45 


Peas 


23.4 
1.2 


41.0 

7.4 


2.5 
1.0 


14.1 
89.1 


2.00 


Radishes 


2.15 


Rice 


5.1 
1.2 


82.0 
4.0 


0.5 
0.5 


9.0 
90.4 


1.45 


Turnips 


3.00 


DAIRY PRODUCTS. 












Butter 


0.0 
30.8 


100.0 

28.0 


0.0 

4.7 


0.0 
36.5 


2.30 


Cheese 


4.00 


Cream 


3.5 


4.5 


0.0 


92.0 


2.15 


Eggs (white of) . . 
Eggs (yolk of)... 
Milk . . , 


13.0 
0.0 
5.0 


0.0 

29.8 
8.0 


2.8 
2.0 
1.0 


84.2 
51.3 
86.0 


.30 
3.00 
2.00 



>'ir.■^;•<.^,.T^^I^f^■■ •>«*^i>4;' .- ■'■^:i">. 




THE PUBLIC LIBRARY 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 

y/j^ M3L9a..l 



All losses or injuries beyond reasonable wear, how- 
ever caused, must be promptly adjusted by the person 
to whom the book is charged. 

Fine for over detention, two cents a day (Sundays 
and holidays excluded). 




U. 3. OOVERNUEST TRINTINO OFFICE: 1929 



9—1330 



LIBHAHY Uh CONGRESS 



029 714 084 A 



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It ■ 
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